Hydrogel Implants with Varying Crosslinking Degrees
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogel technologies either rely solely on reactive precursors that require external initiators for crosslinking or initiated precursors that crosslink upon exposure to external sources, limiting the formation of hydrogels with desired properties such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and controlled degradation rates.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogel composition combining reactive and initiated precursors, where reactive precursors with electrophilic and nucleophilic groups crosslink initially, and initiated precursors with vinyl groups are exposed to an initiator to form an interpenetrating network, allowing for controlled crosslinking and degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydrogels are formed from initiated precursors that crosslink upon exposure to external initiators, then crosslinking control is improved, but mechanical strength and biocompatibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines reactive precursors (multi-arm polyether with electrophilic groups and nucleophilic groups) and initiated precursors (vinyl groups) to form a composite hydrogel system. The reactive precursors provide immediate crosslinking for structural integrity and mechanical strength, while the initiated precursors provide controlled crosslinking upon UV exposure for adaptability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating both crosslinking mechanisms into a single hydrogel system that achieves both mechanical strength and crosslinking control.
2Strength
If hydrogels are formed from reactive precursors that crosslink upon contact, then mechanical strength is improved, but crosslinking control and degradation rate control are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reactive precursors perform preliminary crosslinking upon contact to establish the basic hydrogel structure and mechanical strength. Subsequently, UV initiation triggers additional crosslinking of the initiated precursor components, allowing for controlled modification and enhancement of the hydrogel properties. This preliminary action followed by controlled action resolves the contradiction by first ensuring mechanical strength through immediate crosslinking, then providing crosslinking control through the staged UV-initiated crosslinking process.
3Device complexity
If a single type of precursor is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to achieve desired properties (biocompatibility, mechanical strength, degradation rate) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different precursor components with distinct functions: multi-arm polyether with electrophilic groups for controlled crosslinking, nucleophilic groups for immediate crosslinking, and vinyl groups for UV-initiated crosslinking. Each component contributes specific properties to different regions or aspects of the hydrogel structure, enabling simultaneous achievement of biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and degradation rate control. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning specific functional roles to different precursor components, allowing the hydrogel to exhibit multiple desired properties despite the increased compositional complexity.
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 approach enables the creation of hydrogels with enhanced biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and controlled degradation rates, suitable for medical applications such as tissue attachment and drug delivery, while providing a scaffold for tissue integration and growth.
Implementation Method 1
a first reactive precursor including a multi-arm polyether possessing electrophilic groups, a second reactive precursor including nucleophilic groups
Implementation Method 2
exposing the initiated precursor to an initiator to initiate crosslinking of the initiated precursor
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel composition and methods of using the same. The hydrogel composition may include precursors that react with each other upon contact as well as precursors that react upon contact with an initiator. In embodiments, the resulting hydrogels may have varying levels of crosslinking with both denser and less dense regions.