Non-Adhesive Collagen-Like Hydrogels for Tissue Adhesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collagen hydrogels used in medical applications can cause immunogenic reactions, transmit diseases, and lead to undesired tissue adhesion and biofouling issues due to their animal-derived nature and multiple cell binding sites, which complicates wound healing and surgical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
Hydrogels are synthesized using collagen-like proteins and cross-linkers with polyalkylene glycol and succinimidyl groups, resulting in a non-adhesive and vegan alternative that can be sterile-filtered and dissolved at neutral pH, reducing viscosity and immunogenicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional animal-derived collagen hydrogels are used, then good biocompatibility and scaffold production are achieved, but immunogenic reactions and disease transmission occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the beneficial collagen-like structure and functionality from bacterial sources while eliminating the harmful animal-derived components that cause immunogenic reactions. The bacterial collagen-like protein serves as a synthetic alternative that maintains the desirable biocompatibility without the drawbacks of animal origin.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the source parameter of the collagen from animal-derived to bacterial-derived, fundamentally altering the origin while preserving the functional properties. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining biocompatibility while eliminating immunogenicity associated with animal products.
2Strength
If conventional animal-derived collagen hydrogels are used, then scaffold production and cell binding are achieved, but undesired tissue adhesion and biofouling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the surface properties and chemical composition of the collagen-like hydrogel to create different local qualities. By controlling the amino acid sequence and cross-linking patterns, the hydrogel provides appropriate cell binding sites while preventing unwanted tissue adhesion, thus resolving the contradiction through localized functional differentiation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If conventional collagen hydrogels are used, then wound healing promotion is achieved, but thrombosis and biofouling issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The bacterial collagen-like protein acts as an intermediary material that facilitates wound healing processes while preventing thrombosis. It provides a biocompatible scaffold that promotes tissue regeneration without triggering the blood clotting cascade that leads to thrombosis, thus resolving the contradiction between healing promotion and thrombosis prevention.
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 new hydrogels exhibit anti-fouling properties and minimize tissue adhesion, providing a safer and more effective solution for wound sealing, drug delivery, and cell culture applications.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogels, obtained by reacting at least one collagen-like protein and at least one cross-linker comprising at least two groups each comprising a polyalkylene glycol moiety and a succinimidyl group
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention pertains to a hydrogel, obtained by reacting at least one collagen-like protein and at least one cross-linker comprising at least two groups each comprising a polyalkylene glycol moiety and a succinimidyl group. Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of the hydrogel according to the present invention as stent, for wound sealing, drug delivery, healing promotion, cell culture, spheroid production, embryoid body formation, anti-adhesion barriers, coatings, sponges, and antibacterial dressings.