Methacrylated Devitalized Cartilage Hydrogel In Situ Crosslinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogels used as tissue scaffolds often leak or shrink during in situ curing or crosslinking, leading to instability and ineffective delivery of bioactive agents to implant sites.
Innovation Solution
Development of hydrogel precursors incorporating devitalized cartilage particles or methacrylated devitalized cartilage, which are crosslinked to form stable hydrogels that remain at the implant site, preventing leakage and contraction, and can be used to induce chondrogenesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydrogels are designed to be implanted as liquid or flowable format and then cured or crosslinked in situ, then the hydrogel can be delivered to implant site, but the hydrogel components leak away from implant site before and during curing or crosslinking process
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogel precursor is formulated with crosslinkable functional groups (methacrylate, acrylate, or vinyl groups) that enable in situ crosslinking after implantation. This preliminary preparation allows the material to be delivered in a flowable state and then transformed into a stable gel structure at the target site, preventing component leakage during the curing process
2Reliability
If hydrogels are cured or crosslinked in situ, then the hydrogel forms at implant site, but the hydrogel shrinks or does not fill implant site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes photo-initiated crosslinking parameters to control the gelation process. By adjusting light intensity, wavelength, and exposure time, the hydrogel can be cured in situ while minimizing shrinkage and maximizing volume retention to properly fill the implant site defect
3Reliability
If hydrogel components move away from implant site, then the hydrogel can be formed, but the bioactive agent is not located at implant site for functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogel incorporates bioactive agents (growth factors, genes, or other therapeutic molecules) within its polymer network structure. This composite formulation ensures that the bioactive agents remain localized at the implant site together with the hydrogel matrix, preventing their loss during the crosslinking process and maintaining therapeutic functionality
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 use of devitalized cartilage particles in hydrogel precursors enhances bioactivity and chondroinductivity, maintaining shape stability and mechanical properties, effectively promoting cartilage regeneration without significant contraction or disintegration.
Implementation Method 1
a crosslinked hydrogel can include the DVC particles... the MeDVC, such as MeSDVC may be crosslinked so as to form a hydrogel
Implementation Method 2
The DVC particles can then be frozen and lyophilized... The DVC (lyophilized or un-lyophilized) can then be ground into fine particles
Implementation Method 3
mixing the thawed cartilage with dry ice or otherwise refreezing or hardening the thawed cartilage, and then grinding the cartilage
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable composition can include methacrylated solubilized devitalized cartilage (MeSDVC) with or without devitalized cartilage (DVC) particles. These compositions can be hydrogel precursors. After implantation, the MeSDVC may be crosslinked so as to form a hydrogel. The crosslinked hydrogel can include the DVC particles. A hydrogel precursor matrix (e.g., not crosslinked) can include a crosslinkable substance that can be crosslinked into a hydrogel, where DVC particles are included in the precursor matrix. The hydrogel precursor matrix can be located in a tissue defect site, such as a hole or recess in a cartilage or bone, and then crosslinked into a hydrogel that has the DVC particles therein.