Photoreactive Hydrogel for Controlled Cell Viability and Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for encapsulating and dispersing cells in hydrogels face challenges such as limited control over cellular expression, undesirable cell behavior, and inconsistent release profiles, which hinder their effectiveness in tissue regeneration and therapeutic applications.

Innovation Solution

The use of hydrogels comprising photoreactive monomers and thiol linkers, specifically polyethylene glycol norbornene and polyethylene glycol diacrylate, allows for controlled encapsulation and dispersion of cells, enabling precise control over cellular expression and behavior through customizable hydrogel properties and dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cells are encapsulated in hydrogels to provide physical support, then cell viability is improved, but control over cellular expression and release timing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell viabilityVSAvoidcontrol over cellular expression and release

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogel is designed with dynamic properties that allow it to transition from an encapsulating state to a release state. The hydrogel maintains cells in a protected environment initially, then enables controlled release based on temporal cues or external stimuli, providing both protection and controllability throughout the treatment period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrogel's physical and chemical parameters (such as mesh size, degradation rate, or crosslinking density) are optimized to balance cell protection with controlled release. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves both high cell viability during encapsulation and timely release when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If hydrogel properties are customized to control cell behavior, then cellular expression is improved, but manufacturing precision and standardization become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over cellular expressionVSAvoidstandardization of cell encapsulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogel system is divided into modular components with standardized interfaces. This allows different hydrogel formulations and cell encapsulation protocols to be combined systematically, enabling customization of cellular expression control while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized modules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A universal hydrogel platform is designed that can accommodate multiple cell types and application scenarios through standardized protocols. This multi-functional system provides consistent manufacturing precision across different applications while allowing customization of cellular expression through protocol variation rather than redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If cells are released quickly from hydrogel, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but cell viability and controlled release are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease rate of cellsVSAvoidcell viability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrogel is designed to release cells in controlled periodic bursts rather than continuously or all at once. This periodic release pattern maintains cell viability by allowing gradual adaptation to the external environment while providing sufficient release rate for therapeutic effectiveness through multiple discrete release events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 enhances cell viability and controlled release, maintaining over 80% cell viability for 300 hours and controlling the release of cells within 48 hours, thereby improving tissue regeneration and therapeutic outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

The hydrogel comprises, in polymerized form, one or more photoreactive monomers and a thiol linker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20230158077A1Methods and compositions to control cellular expression

Publication Date: 2023.05.25 UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and compositions for controlling cellular expression. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, methods of forming hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, and methods of using hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells for controlling production of, for example, secretomes. In an embodiment, a composition for controlling production of secretomes is provided. The composition includes, a hydrogel comprising, in polymerized form, one or more photoreactive monomers and a thiol linker, wherein at least one of the one or more photoreactive monomers comprises a methylene functional group; and one or more cells dispersed or encapsulated within the hydrogel.