Proteolytic Tissue Matrix Treatment for Pliability Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue products often have undesirable mechanical properties, such as stiffness and lack of natural feel, and may elicit an inflammatory immune response when implanted, which can hinder tissue regeneration and repair.
Innovation Solution
Treatment of collagen-containing tissue matrices with proteolytic enzymes, such as alcalase, under controlled conditions to enhance pliability, porosity, and reduce immune response, while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If tissue products are used for surgical applications, then they provide structural support and tissue replacement, but they are undesirably stiff and have an unnatural feel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by treating the tissue matrix with proteolytic enzymes under controlled conditions (pH 7.0-9.0, temperature 20-50°C, treatment time 1-72 hours) to modify the mechanical properties. The enzyme concentration and treatment duration are adjusted to achieve the desired balance between pliability and structural integrity, converting the stiff tissue matrix into a more compliant material without compromising its load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Proteolytic enzymes serve as intermediaries that selectively degrade specific protein components (collagen, elastin, keratin) within the tissue matrix. These enzymes act as mediators between the original stiff tissue structure and the desired soft, pliable state, enabling controlled modification of mechanical properties while preserving the overall structural framework
2Reliability
If tissue products are implanted in the body, then they provide tissue regeneration and repair, but they elicit an inflammatory or immune response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes immunogenic components from the tissue matrix through enzymatic treatment. Proteolytic enzymes selectively degrade proteins that trigger immune responses, eliminating the harmful immunogenic elements while preserving the bioactive signals necessary for tissue regeneration and repair
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts potentially harmful immunogenic proteins into beneficial bioactive peptides through controlled enzymatic degradation. The proteolytic breakdown of large immunogenic proteins into smaller peptides reduces immune recognition while maintaining or enhancing regenerative signals, transforming a harmful property into a beneficial one
3Ease of operation
If tissue products are processed to improve mechanical properties, then they become softer and more pliable, but collagen degradation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using proteolytic enzymes with specific substrate specificities that target particular protein components (collagen, elastin, or keratin) while sparing others. This selective degradation allows modification of mechanical properties in specific regions or at specific molecular levels without compromising the overall structural integrity of the tissue matrix
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 enzymatic treatment improves the mechanical properties of tissue products, making them softer and more pliable, while also reducing the immune response upon implantation, thereby supporting better tissue regeneration and repair.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the tissue matrix with a proteolytic enzyme under conditions sufficient to produce a desired level of pliability in the tissue matrix
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for treating tissue matrices and tissue matrices produced according to the methods are provided. The methods can include treating a tissue matrix with a proteolytic enzyme to produce a desired pliability of the tissue matrix and/or to control the immunogenicity of the tissue matrix. The methods can comprise treatment with alcalase under conditions controlled to produce a desired pliability without unacceptable alteration in collagen structure.