Polyacrylate Wound Dressing Particle Mix for Protease Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wound dressings containing polyacrylate particles are ineffective in managing proteases, particularly metalloproteases, which disrupt the natural healing process of chronic wounds, especially during the granulation phase.

Innovation Solution

A particle mixture of polyacrylate particles with defined sizes, comprising 20 to 98 wt.% particles with a size of 45 ≤ x ≤ 300 µm and 2 to 80 wt.% particles with x > 300 µm, which inhibit proteases through diffusible mechanisms and compartmentalization, thereby promoting tissue regeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If polyacrylate particles with size > 300 μm are used for fluid absorption, then absorption capacity is improved, but protease inhibition effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid absorption capacityVSAvoidprotease activity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The particle mixture is segmented into two distinct size ranges: particles with size > 300 μm for fluid absorption and particles with size 45-300 μm for protease inhibition. This segmentation allows each particle size fraction to perform its specialized function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the wound dressing have different functional qualities through the particle size distribution. Larger particles (>300 μm) provide absorption capacity while smaller particles (45-300 μm) provide protease inhibition, creating local quality differentiation within the same material system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If polyacrylate particles with size 45-300 μm are used for protease inhibition, then protease binding effectiveness is improved, but fluid absorption capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotease inhibition effectivenessVSAvoidfluid absorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The particle mixture is segmented into two distinct size ranges: particles with size > 300 μm for fluid absorption and particles with size 45-300 μm for protease inhibition. This segmentation allows each particle size fraction to perform its specialized function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges two different particle size fractions into a single composite particle mixture. The smaller particles (45-300 μm) provide protease inhibition while the larger particles (>300 μm) provide fluid absorption, and their combination creates a synergistic effect that achieves both functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single particle size is used in wound dressing, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but functional effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidwound treatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the wound dressing have different functional qualities through the particle size distribution. Larger particles (>300 μm) provide absorption capacity while smaller particles (45-300 μm) provide protease inhibition, creating local quality differentiation within the same material system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite particle mixture comprising two different polyacrylate particle size fractions. This composite structure combines the advantages of both size ranges, achieving multifunctionality (absorption + protease inhibition) that neither single-size fraction could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 particle mixture effectively inhibits proteases, particularly metalloproteases, allowing for natural wound healing by reducing their activity and promoting tissue regeneration, evident in improved wound condition and reduced size.

Implementation Method 1

polyacrylate particles with a particle size x with 45 ≤ x ≤ 300 µm, in particular with an average particle size x of 63 µm, for inhibiting proteases in a wound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

polyacrylate particles have been shown to inhibit proteases via diffusible mechanisms as well as to compartmentalize them through direct binding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2067492B2Wound dressing with polyacrylate particles and its application
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 PAUL HARTMANN AG
  • EP2067492B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2067492B2 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2067492B2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Wound dressing (10) comprises a particle mixture and a carrier material (17) for the particle mixture, for inhibiting proteases in the wound and/or for hydroactive wound treatment, where the particle mixture contains polyacrylate particle (15, 16) with different particle sizes i.e. 5-100 wt.% of particle with a particle size of = 300 mu m for inhibiting proteases in the wound, and 0-95 wt.% of particle with a particle size of greater than 300 mu m for feeding and/or dispensing the aqueous solution. Wound dressing (10) comprises a particle mixture and a carrier material (17) for the particle mixture, for inhibiting proteases in the wound and/or for hydroactive wound treatment, where: the particle mixture contains polyacrylate particle (15, 16) with different particle sizes i.e. 5-100 wt.% of particle with a particle size of = 300 mu m for inhibiting proteases in the wound, and 0-95 wt.% of particle with a particle size of greater than 300 mu m for feeding and/or dispensing the aqueous solution; and the wound dressing contains at least 10 wt.% of polyacrylate particle based on the total weight of carrier material. ACTIVITY : Vulnerary. MECHANISM OF ACTION : Protease inhibitor.