Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Gel-Sol Transition for Ocular Sealants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for ocular trauma require immediate application and effective sealing of open globe injuries, but existing technologies are cumbersome and lack efficiency in immediate deployment and reversibility.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-responsive hydrogel system is developed, where a biocompatible polymer is disposed on a host material, exposed to a specific temperature to form a gel, and then cooled to transition into a sol, enhancing the gel-sol transition rate and adhesion properties for ocular sealants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the polymer is exposed to high temperature for extended duration to ensure complete gel formation, then the gelation completeness is improved, but the treatment time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is pre-treated with a catalyst or pre-heated to initiate gelation before actual application, so that when applied to the injury site, the gel-sol transition occurs rapidly without requiring extended exposure times
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies physical parameters such as temperature, pH, or adds catalysts to change the gelation kinetics, enabling the gel-sol transition to occur rapidly at physiological conditions rather than requiring prolonged high-temperature exposure
2Speed
If the hydrogel is designed to transition rapidly from gel to sol for quick deployment, then the response speed is improved, but the adhesion strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogel is designed with dynamic properties that allow it to exhibit different mechanical characteristics at different stages: strong adhesion during gel state for sealing, and rapid sol transition for quick deployment and removal, achieving both speed and strength requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled phase transitions between gel and sol states, where the gel state provides adhesion strength for sealing injuries, and the sol state enables rapid deployment and removal, with the transition speed optimized through compositional design
3Strength
If the polymer concentration is increased to enhance adhesion properties, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the viscosity increases making application difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer solution is designed to be low-viscosity and easily applic able in its initial state, then undergoes a transition to a high-viscosity gel state with strong adhesion properties after application, achieving both easy application and effective sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes such as temperature, pH, or ionic strength to control the polymer conformation and intermolecular interactions, allowing the solution to remain low-viscosity during application but form a strong adhesive gel after deployment
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 system enables rapid and reversible phase transition, improving the sol recovery rate by 8-10 times, allowing for efficient and immediate sealing of ocular injuries with enhanced adhesion and mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the polymer and the host material to an exposure temperature that causes the polymer to form a gel, and cooling the polymer and the host material to a cooling temperature that causes the gel to transition to a sol
Implementation Method 2
A temperature-responsive hydrogel system is developed, where a biocompatible polymer is disposed on a host material, exposed to a specific temperature to form a gel, and then cooled to transition into a sol
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, systems and methods are disclosed for enhancing a gel to sol transition of a polymer that includes disposing the polymer on a host material, exposing the polymer and the host material to an exposure temperature that causes the polymer to form a gel, and cooling the polymer and the host material to a cooling temperature that causes the gel to transition to a sol.