Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel for Anti-Adhesion in Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogel materials used for anti-adhesion in medical applications have short preservation times, low stability, and are inconvenient due to their tendency to flow, making them unsuitable for precise application in minimally invasive surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-sensitive hydrogel composition comprising a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer and a hydrophobic polyester polymer with a bifunctional group monomer, combined with an anti-adhesion additive such as carbohydrates or nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds, which can be dissolved in water to form a liquid that gels at body temperature, providing a stable and effective anti-adhesion barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If film-type anti-adhesion products are used, then they provide a barrier effect, but they cannot be precisely placed in specific areas and are not suitable for minimally invasive surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the anti-adhesion product from solid film to temperature-sensitive gel that transitions from liquid to gel form. The composition is injected as a liquid at room temperature for easy delivery, then transforms into a gel at body temperature to provide precise placement and barrier function, resolving the contradiction between application convenience and placement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the hydrogel composition from liquid state at room temperature to gel state at body temperature. This phase change enables the material to be easily injected in liquid form while automatically forming a stable gel barrier at the target site, simultaneously achieving ease of operation and precise placement
2Ease of operation
If gel-form or liquid-form anti-adhesion products are used, then they can be applied conveniently, but they tend to flow and cannot be affixed in place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity and flow properties of the anti-adhesion material by utilizing temperature-dependent phase transition. The material maintains liquid flow characteristics at room temperature for easy application, then transitions to gel state at body temperature to achieve position stability and prevent flowing, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and position stability
3Reliability
If conventional hydrogel materials are used, then they provide anti-adhesion effect, but they have short preservation time and low stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite hydrogel system combining polyethylene glycol polymer with polyester polymer and bifunctional group monomer. This composite structure enhances both the anti-adhesion efficacy and the stability of the material, allowing it to maintain its properties for extended preservation periods while remaining effective at preventing tissue adhesion
4Reliability
If conventional hydrogel materials are used, then they provide anti-adhesion effect, but they require long re-dissolved time (a few hours or a few days)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the hydrogel to include specific polymer ratios and anti-adhesion additives that enhance solubility. This allows the material to maintain its stability and anti-adhesion efficacy during storage while enabling rapid re-dissolution in physiological fluids, reducing the re-dissolved time from hours or days to a much shorter period
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 hydrogel composition offers improved convenience, stability, and anti-adhesion efficacy, maintaining its gelling properties for up to 6 months and effectively preventing tissue adhesion post-surgery, suitable for minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature-sensitive hydrogel composition which is more convenient to be re-dissolved, preserved, and used... dissolving the hydrogel composition in water at a first temperature to form a liquid; and applying the liquid to a substrate, wherein the substrate has a second temperature, and the liquid forms into a gel at the second temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a hydrogel composition including: a hydrogel having a structure represented by Formula (I) or Formula (II) shown as follows: A-B-BOX-B-A, Formula (I); B-A-B-(BOX-BAB)n-BOX-B-A-B, Formula (II), wherein, A is a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer, B is a hydrophobic polyester polymer, BOX is a bifunctional group monomer of 2,2′-Bis(2-oxazoline) for coupling di-block of A-B or tri-block of B-A-B, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and an anti-adhesion additive, wherein the anti-adhesion additive comprises a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing cyclic compound, a polymer or a combination thereof.