Spider Silk Polypeptide Tissue Adhesive for Rapid Tissue Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue adhesives, such as fibrin and acrylate-based adhesives, face challenges including high cost, complexity in handling, tissue reactivity, and formation of barriers that hinder tissue integration, while existing silk fibroin hydrogels are not optimized for surgical applications.

Innovation Solution

A self-assembling spider silk polypeptide coating for soft tissue implants, which provides strong binding, biocompatibility, and flexibility, allowing tissue integration without enzymatic or chemical reactions, and is cost-effective.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fibrin tissue adhesives are used, then biocompatibility and biodegradability are improved, but cost increases and handling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidhandling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses synthetic spider silk polypeptide that can be produced cost-effectively through recombinant DNA technology in bacterial systems, replacing expensive fibrin adhesives while maintaining biocompatibility. The synthetic nature allows for standardized, inexpensive production without requiring complex cold chain storage or specialized handling protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The spider silk polypeptide formulation is designed to self-assemble into adhesive structures without requiring complex mixing procedures or multiple components. The single-component formulation eliminates the need for separate syringes and mixing steps required by fibrin adhesives, simplifying handling while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If acrylate-based tissue adhesives are used, then cost decreases, but tissue reactivity and histotoxicity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidtissue reactivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by using synthetic spider silk polypeptide with specific amino acid sequences (comprising repetitive units of GPGQQ and AAAAAA) that provide both cost-effectiveness and biocompatibility. This parameter change allows the adhesive to avoid the histotoxicity associated with acrylate-based compounds while maintaining affordable production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite adhesive system combining spider silk polypeptide with appropriate carriers and adjuvants to achieve both low cost and high biocompatibility. The composite formulation leverages the natural biocompatibility of silk proteins while adding functional components needed for surgical application, avoiding the harmful effects of pure synthetic acrylates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If fibrin tissue adhesives are used, then biocompatibility is improved, but processing time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spider silk polypeptide is pre-formulated as a ready-to-use single-component adhesive that begins setting immediately upon application without requiring the sequential addition of multiple components. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time required for mixing fibrinogen and thrombin components while maintaining biocompatibility throughout the extended setting period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If acrylate-based tissue adhesives are used, then cost decreases, but tissue integration is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidtissue integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition to synthetic spider silk polypeptide with specific repetitive amino acid sequences that promote tissue integration. The GPGQQ and AAAAAA repetitive units create a biocompatible surface that encourages cell attachment and tissue growth, overcoming the barrier formation effect of acrylate adhesives while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 spider silk polypeptide coating offers uncomplicated application, reduces tensile force, prevents tissue drying, and enables rapid tissue integration, overcoming the limitations of existing adhesives.

Implementation Method 1

A self-assembling spider silk polypeptide coating for soft tissue implants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

The spider silk polypeptide coating offers uncomplicated application, reduces tensile force, prevents tissue drying, and enables rapid tissue integration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3682912B1Use of self-assembling polypeptides as tissue adhesives
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 AMSILK
  • EP3682912B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3682912B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2G
  • EP3682912B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

The present invention relates to a self-assembling polypeptide for use as tissue adhesive. The present invention also relates to the use of a self-assembling polypeptide as tissue adhesive. Further, the invention is directed to the use of a self-assembling polypeptide to glue one or more cosmetic compounds on skin, mucosa, and/or hair. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a self-assembling polypeptide for use in gluing one or more pharmaceutical compounds on tissue, skin, mucosa, and/or hair.