Biodegradable Polymer Film Nanoparticle Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing polymer films for tissue substitution in skeletal deficiencies lack an optimal balance between mechanical properties and tissue integration, leading to inadequate load and stress distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the measurement of functional relationships between the weight percentage of tissue-forming nanoparticles in polymer films and their maximum load and stress properties, followed by determining an optimal weight percentage for producing polymer films with enhanced mechanical properties, using a combination of synthetic and natural biodegradable polymers and nanoparticles like hydroxyapatite, to create a biocompatible structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the weight percentage of tissue-forming nanoparticles in the polymer film is increased, then the tissue integration and biocompatibility are improved, but the mechanical strength and load-bearing capacity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue integrationVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies the weight percentage of tissue-forming nanoparticles (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate) in the polymer film to identify optimal concentrations. By changing this critical parameter, the invention achieves the best balance between tissue integration reliability and mechanical strength, determining that specific weight percentages provide peak performance for both properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite polymer films by combining biodegradable polymers (such as polyurethane, PLA, PGA, PLGA) with tissue-forming nanoparticles. This composite approach allows the material to simultaneously exhibit the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix and the bioactive, tissue-integrating properties of the nanoparticle reinforcement, resolving the contradiction between strength and tissue integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If the weight percentage of tissue-forming nanoparticles is optimized for maximum load, then the load distribution is improved, but the stress distribution may become suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximum loadVSAvoidmaximum stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent independently measures and optimizes two critical mechanical parameters: maximum load (force) and maximum stress. By conducting separate functional relationship measurements for each parameter across different nanoparticle weight percentages, the invention identifies the optimal concentration that simultaneously satisfies both load-bearing and stress-distribution requirements, rather than optimizing for only one parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3552634B1Biodegradable polymeric nanocomposite materials and applications of the same
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV OF ARKANSAS
  • EP3552634B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3552634B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3552634B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method for producing a polymer film includes: obtaining a load graph representing a functional relationship between a weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles in a polymer film and a maximum load of that polymer film; obtaining a stress graph representing a functional relationship between the weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles in a polymer film and maximum stress of that polymer film; determining a first weight percentage corresponding to a peak of the load graph and determining a second weight percentage corresponding to a peak of the stress graph; determining an optimal weight percentage based on the first and second weight percentage values; and producing a polymer film having tissue forming nanoparticles at the optimal weight percentage.