Shear-Thinning Hydrogel for Adhesion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adhesion barrier technologies are ineffective in fully preventing post-operative adhesions, have rapid degradation times, and are difficult to handle during surgery, leading to increased healthcare costs and complications from adhesions in surgeries such as abdominal, gynecological, and thoracic procedures.
Innovation Solution
A shear-thinning and viscoelastic supramolecular hydrogel, comprising hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) nanoparticles, which provides a dynamic, self-healing barrier that maintains separation between tissues and organs, preventing adhesion formation through its unique mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If polymer films or simple polymer solutions are used as adhesion barriers, then they provide a physical barrier between tissues, but they have rapid degradation times and insufficient residence time at injured tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the barrier material by using shear-thinning hydrogels that transform from liquid to gel state. This allows the material to remain liquid during application for easy coverage, then transform to a gel state in situ to provide prolonged residence time and reliable adhesion prevention without rapid degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite hydrogel formulations combining multiple polymers (hyaluronic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, chitosan) with specific rheological modifiers to create a material that exhibits shear-thinning behavior and sustained stability, achieving both easy application and prolonged effective residence time at the tissue interface
2Reliability
If resorbable solid membranes are used to cover affected tissues, then they provide adhesion barrier protection, but they are difficult to completely cover tissues with many surfaces during application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the fluid properties of shear-thinning hydrogels that can be sprayed or flowed like liquids to completely cover complex tissue surfaces with multiple contours, then the material gels in situ to maintain coverage, eliminating the application difficulties associated with solid membranes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic material system that changes its physical state from liquid to gel in response to environmental conditions (temperature, pH, shear stress). This dynamic transformation allows the material to be easily applied as a liquid that conforms to complex tissue geometries, then solidifies into a stable gel barrier that provides reliable adhesion prevention
3Reliability
If current adhesion barrier technologies are used, then they provide some adhesion protection, but they require re-operation and result in significant healthcare expenses due to inefficacy and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesion barrier protection immediately during the initial surgery using shear-thinning hydrogels that provide superior and more complete coverage. This preliminary action with an improved material prevents adhesion formation more effectively, eliminating the need for subsequent re-operations to remove adhesions and reducing overall healthcare time and expenses
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 hydrogel effectively reduces the incidence and severity of adhesions, as demonstrated in rat and sheep models, with no residual material remaining after biodegradation, allowing for straightforward application and maintaining natural tissue movement, thus addressing the inefficacies of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
A shear-thinning and viscoelastic supramolecular hydrogel... The shear-thinning supramolecular hydrogel comprises hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)
Implementation Method 2
A shear-thinning and viscoelastic supramolecular hydrogel... a storage modulus (G′) of 10-1000 Pa observed at a frequency of 10 rad/s... a Tan Delta, defined as the ratio of the loss modulus over the storage modulus, G′′/G′, less than 1
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel is provided and engineered with essential features for maintaining separation between tissues and organs in any part of the body, thus preventing adhesion formation, are their shear-thinning, viscoelasticity, and rapid self-healing. A method of using the tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel for tissue adhesion prevention is also provided. A method of interposing the tissue adhesion prevention in between tissue layers for tissue adhesion prevention is further provided.