Fibrin Gel Laminate for Brittle Cell Sheet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sheet-shaped cell cultures used in regenerative medicine are brittle and prone to wrinkling or tearing during isolation and operation, making them difficult to handle and implant effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dripping a fibrinogen liquid onto a sheet-shaped cell culture followed by spraying a thrombin liquid to form a firm fibrin gel layer, which adheres strongly to the cells, allowing for a stable laminate that can be easily handled and implanted without the need for additional support structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sheet-shaped cell culture is used for tissue repair, then cell transplantation efficacy is improved, but the sheet becomes brittle and prone to wrinkling or tearing during isolation and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by forming a fibrin gel layer on the sheet-shaped cell culture. The fibrin gel acts as a supporting matrix that reinforces the brittle cell sheet, preventing tearing and wrinkling during handling while maintaining the biological functionality of the cells for tissue repair applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The fibrin gel serves as an intermediary support structure between the fragile cell sheet and the external handling environment. This intermediary layer provides mechanical strength during isolation and operation, yet is biocompatible and degradable, allowing the cells to function normally once implanted.
2Productivity
If a fibrinogen liquid and thrombin liquid are simultaneously sprayed onto a sheet-shaped cell culture to form a support layer, then the support layer is formed quickly, but the support layer may come off the sheet or cause isolation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fibrinogen liquid first to the sheet-shaped cell culture, allowing it to adsorb onto the cell surface before applying thrombin liquid. This preliminary action ensures that when thrombin is added, the fibrin gel forms directly on the cell sheet with strong adhesion, preventing delamination and isolation failure while maintaining rapid gel formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fibrin gel formation process into two distinct steps: first applying fibrinogen, then applying thrombin. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned before the reaction occurs, ensuring reliable adhesion while maintaining the benefits of rapid gel formation through the subsequent thrombin-catalyzed polymerization.
3Strength
If the support layer is thickened to prevent tearing and isolation issues, then structural stability is improved, but cell function is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a fibrin gel layer with optimized local properties - thin enough to allow cell function and nutrient diffusion, yet sufficiently cross-linked to provide mechanical strength. The gel forms a porous network structure that offers structural support while maintaining permeability for metabolite exchange, thus supporting both structural stability and cell viability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting laminate is strong, easy to apply, and maintains cell function, enabling reliable treatment of tissue abnormalities with improved operability and reduced need for surgical intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a fibrin gel layer formed by a reaction between fibrinogen and thrombin can firmly adhere to the sheet-shaped cell culture
Data Source
AI summary
A laminate of a sheet-shaped cell culture is disclosed, which has excellent operability and is suitable for implantation. A method is disclosed for producing a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture, including a step of dripping a liquid containing fibrinogen onto an upper surface of a sheet-shaped cell culture, a step of spraying a liquid containing thrombin onto the surface, and a step of forming a fibrin gel layer on the surface by a reaction between fibrinogen and thrombin; and a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture produced by the method are disclosed.