Hydrogel Dialysis Loading for Uniform Organic Compound Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

The incorporation of organic compounds within hydrogels is challenging due to the hydrogel's physicochemical nature, leading to issues such as degradation, microbial contamination, concentration gradients, solubility differences, and unpredictable injectability, which complicates the process and affects rheological properties.

Innovation Solution

A method involving dialysis is used to incorporate organic compounds into hydrogels by solubilizing them in the dialysis solution at a concentration equal to the target concentration, allowing for homogeneous distribution without additional homogenization steps, maintaining the hydrogel's integrity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If homogenization steps are used to incorporate organic compounds into hydrogels, then concentration uniformity is improved, but hydrogel degradation increases due to mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration uniformityVSAvoidhydrogel degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The organic compound is incorporated into the hydrogel during the gel preparation process before the final polymer concentration is reached, eliminating the need for subsequent homogenization steps that would cause mechanical degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The incorporation of organic compound and hydrogel preparation processes are merged into a single step, where the organic compound is added to the polymer solution during gel formation, achieving both concentration uniformity and avoiding degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If homogenization steps are extended to ensure complete mixing, then concentration homogeneity is improved, but microbial contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration homogeneityVSAvoidmicrobial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The organic compound is incorporated during the gel preparation process before final concentration is reached, completing the mixing process earlier and reducing the time window for microbial contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If extensive homogenization is performed to achieve uniform distribution, then concentration uniformity is improved, but oxidation risk increases due to oxygen incorporation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration uniformityVSAvoidoxidation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The organic compound is incorporated during the gel preparation process before final concentration is reached, completing the mixing process earlier and reducing exposure time to oxygen, thus minimizing oxidation risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If organic compound is added after swelling to maintain hydrogel structure, then rheological properties are preserved, but process complexity increases due to additional steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverheological propertiesVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The organic compound is incorporated during the gel preparation process before swelling is complete, allowing incorporation at an earlier stage without requiring additional post-swelling steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The organic compound incorporation is merged with the gel preparation process, eliminating the need for separate addition and homogenization steps that would increase process complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Productivity

If local concentrations of organic compound are increased, then incorporation efficiency is improved, but chemical incompatibility and degradation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincorporation efficiencyVSAvoidchemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The organic compound is distributed uniformly throughout the hydrogel matrix during preparation, avoiding excessive local concentrations that would cause chemical incompatibility and degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The organic compound is incorporated during the gel preparation process when the polymer concentration is still developing, allowing uniform distribution before the final gel structure forms, preventing local accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method ensures perfect homogeneity and predictable concentration of organic compounds within hydrogels, eliminating the need for homogenization and reducing the risk of degradation, while maintaining the hydrogel's rheological properties and stability.

Implementation Method 1

A method involving dialysis is used to incorporate organic compounds into hydrogels by solubilizing them in the dialysis solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS12478582B2Method for incorporating organic compounds in solution within a hydrogel

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 LABORATOIRES VIVACY SAS

AI summary

A method for incorporating at least one organic compound within a hydrogel, wherein the incorporation is carried out by dialysis, the organic compound being solubilized in the dialysis solution at a concentration equal to or greater than the target concentration.