Porous Double-Network Hydrogel for Injectable Tissue Engineering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Injectable hydrogels face challenges in achieving a combination of high permeability and mechanical toughness, particularly in mechanically dynamic tissues like vocal folds, due to their nanoporous structures which limit oxygen and nutrient transport and are prone to fracture under biomechanical stimulations.
Innovation Solution
A porous double-network hydrogel (PDN) is developed, comprising a first polymer that is physically self-crosslinked and a second polymer that is covalently crosslinked, forming interconnected pores in situ, enabling rapid medium perfusion and mechanical resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If injectable hydrogels are designed with nanoporous structures, then they can be delivered via needle-syringe injection with limited invasiveness, but their permeability is limited and they are prone to fracture under biomechanical stimulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a double-network hydrogel composite structure consisting of a first polymer network (e.g., chitosan) and a second polymer network (e.g., gelatin). This composite architecture enables the hydrogel to achieve both injectability and high mechanical toughness, with fracture toughness up to 39 J m−2, by combining the advantages of different polymer materials while maintaining a porous structure for perfusion
2Reliability
If the pore size of single network hydrogels is increased to promote perfusion, then interconnectivity improves, but mechanical strength deteriorates because pores act as defects or cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The double-network composite structure allows the hydrogel to maintain mechanical strength despite having large interconnected pores (1-100 μm) for perfusion. The synergistic interaction between the two polymer networks provides structural support that compensates for the strength-reducing effect of pores, achieving both high permeability and mechanical strength simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates regions with different pore sizes and structural properties within the hydrogel network. The double-network structure provides localized structural reinforcement in certain regions while maintaining open porous channels in other regions, allowing simultaneous optimization of mechanical strength and permeability through spatial variation of material properties
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 PDN exhibits improved fracture toughness, permeability, and cytocompatibility, allowing for effective cell encapsulation and survival in deep layers, and withstanding high-frequency biomechanical stimulations, making it suitable for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first network comprising a first polymer... wherein the first polymer is physically self crosslinked
Implementation Method 2
a second network comprising a second polymer... wherein the second polymer is covalently crosslinked
Implementation Method 3
enabling rapid medium perfusion through the hydrogel matrix
Implementation Method 4
rapid transport of oxygen and nutrients
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a porous double-network hydrogel comprising: a first network comprising a first polymer; a second network comprising a second polymer. The porous double-network hydrogel comprises pores having a diameter of at least 1 μm, and the porous double-network hydrogel is perfusable and injectable.