Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel for Endoscopic Adhesion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-adhesion materials, such as sodium hyaluronate, carboxymethyl cellulose, and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, have limited efficacy and/or side effects and are difficult to use, especially during endoscopic surgeries and at bleeding sites.

Innovation Solution

Administering a self-assembling peptide solution between 7 and 32 amino acids in length that forms a hydrogel under physiological conditions to mitigate biological tissue adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional anti-adhesion materials (sodium hyaluronate, carboxymethyl cellulose, ePTFE) are used, then anti-adhesion effect is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in immobilization and application during endoscopic surgeries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-adhesion effectVSAvoidease of application
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the anti-adhesion material from solid sheet form to liquid solution form. The peptide solution can be freely applied during surgery and then transforms into a gel state, resolving the contradiction between providing reliable anti-adhesion effect and ease of operation during endoscopic procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The material exhibits dynamic transformation from liquid to gel state. During application, it is in liquid form for easy manipulation and delivery, then automatically transforms to gel form for immobilization and sustained anti-adhesion effect, enabling both ease of operation and reliable performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If conventional anti-adhesion materials are used, then anti-adhesion effect is provided, but ease of operation worsens due to inability to effectively apply to bleeding sites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-adhesion effectVSAvoidease of application to bleeding sites
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid-to-gel phase transition enables the material to be applied as a liquid to bleeding sites where fluid application is feasible, then transforms to gel to maintain adhesion prevention despite blood flow and surgical conditions, overcoming the limitation of conventional materials that cannot be effectively applied to bleeding areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional anti-adhesion materials are used, then anti-adhesion effect is provided, but device complexity increases due to difficulty in immobilization at application site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-adhesion effectVSAvoidcomplexity of immobilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic liquid-to-gel transformation eliminates the need for complex immobilization devices or procedures. The material self-immobilizes through phase transition, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable anti-adhesion effect at the application site

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 self-assembling peptide hydrogel effectively prevents or mitigates tissue adhesion, providing a more reliable and targeted anti-adhesion solution for surgical sites, including those with bleeding.

Implementation Method 1

a self-assembling peptide solution forms a hydrogel under physiological conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

the self-assembling peptide solution forms a hydrogel under physiological conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogel formation: Hydrogel

Data Source

PatentUS12377196B2Preventing biological tissue adhesion
Publication Date: 2025.08.05 3D-MATRIX LTD

AI summary

Methods and materials for mitigating biological tissue adhesion are described herein. One method for mitigating adhesion to a biological tissue includes administering an effective amount of a self-assembling peptide solution to the biological tissue, wherein the self-assembling peptide is between about 7 amino acids and 32 amino acids in length and the self-assembling peptide solution forms a hydrogel under physiological conditions.