Self-Organizing Hydrogel Matrix via Peptide-Polymer Conjugates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogel systems for biomedical applications face challenges such as softness, toxicity, and immunogenicity, and are costly to produce at larger scales, limiting their effectiveness and safety for construction processes and cell interactions.
Innovation Solution
A non-covalent self-organizing hydrogel matrix is developed using a covalent peptide-polymer conjugate with a repeated dipeptide motif (BA)n, where B is an amino acid with a positively charged side chain, allowing for the formation of a hydrogel with adjustable properties through simple mixing of compatible components, enabling cell embedding and varying physical, chemical, and biological properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biomaterials derived from living sources are used, then biocompatibility is improved, but chemical composition becomes undefined and application is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines synthetic polymers with bio-macromolecules to create composite hydrogel systems. This allows the material to exhibit both the biocompatibility of natural materials and the defined chemical composition of synthetic materials, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses peptide sequences with adjustable parameters (amino acid composition, length, charge density) to tune the properties of the hydrogel. By changing these parameters, the material can achieve both high biocompatibility and well-defined, controllable chemical composition.
2Stability of the object's composition
If synthetic polymers are used, then chemical composition is well-defined, but biocompatibility and similarity to living systems is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite systems where synthetic polymers are combined with bio-macromolecules (peptides, proteins, polysaccharides). This composite approach maintains the well-defined chemical composition of synthetic materials while incorporating the biocompatibility and biological functionality of natural materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses peptide sequences as intermediary elements that bridge synthetic and natural materials. These peptides can be designed to interact with both synthetic polymer matrices and biological systems, enabling the synthetic hydrogel to achieve biocompatibility while maintaining defined composition.
3Ease of operation
If non-covalent self-organizing systems are used, then cell embedding is improved, but mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines covalent and non-covalent interactions in a composite hydrogel system. The covalent crosslinks provide mechanical strength while non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions) enable gentle cell embedding and self-organization, resolving the contradiction between these requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different regions within the hydrogel with different interaction characteristics. Some regions have covalent crosslinks for mechanical strength while other regions have non-covalent interactions for cell embedding, allowing both functions to coexist in different local areas of the same material.
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 provides a biocompatible, non-toxic, and adjustable matrix for biomedical applications, allowing for controlled release of therapeutic agents and embedding of cells, with adjustable mechanical properties and stability, enhancing cell interaction and tissue engineering capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
non-covalent self-organizing hydrogel matrix
Implementation Method 2
formation of a hydrogel with adjustable properties
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a hydrogel matrix comprising a mixture of a covalent peptide-polymer conjugate and an oligosaccharide;wherein the oligosaccharide is a highly negatively charged sulfated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of heparin, dextran sulfate, α-cyclodextrin sulfate, β-cyclodextrin sulfate and γ-cyclodextrin sulfate;wherein said polymer comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a linear or multi-arm polyethylene glycol;wherein said peptide comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a peptide, which consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO. 18 and SEQ ID NO. 19; andwherein said hydrogel matrix is configured in the form of an oligosaccharide/peptide/polymer system, in which said peptide is chemically conjugated to the polymer such that the hydrogel is obtained by mixing the peptide-polymer conjugate and the oligosaccharide.