Sulfonic Acid Wound Debridement Formulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional treatments for chronic wounds, including debridement methods, have been ineffective in healing chronic wounds due to the presence of necrotic tissue that acts as a reservoir for bacterial growth and promotes inflammation, impairing cellular migration and healing.

Innovation Solution

A liquid or gel formulation comprising phenolsulfonic acid, guaiacolsulfonic acid, free sulfuric acid, and water, or benzenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, and colloidal silica, applied topically to the wound, which acts as both a mechanical and chemical debridement agent, desiccating necrotic tissue and biofilms, and disrupting bacterial structural integrity, thereby promoting wound healing and preventing infections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional debridement methods (autolytic, enzymatic, mechanical, surgical) are used to remove necrotic tissue, then the wound bed is cleared, but the necrotic tissue acts as a reservoir for bacterial growth and promotes inflammation that impairs cellular migration and healing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of debridementVSAvoidhealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies chemical parameters (strong acids like phenolsulfonic acid, guaiacolsulfonic acid, and sulfuric acid) to change the state of necrotic tissue from resistant to easily removable, while simultaneously achieving bacterial destruction and biofilm disruption. This chemical parameter change resolves the contradiction by making debridement both easy and effective at the same time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The formulation combines multiple sulfonic acid compounds with colloidal silica to create a composite debridement agent that simultaneously performs mechanical debridement, chemical necrotic tissue dissolution, bacterial destruction, and biofilm disruption. This composite approach achieves both ease of debridement and reliable healing outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If necrotic tissue is left in the wound, then the wound structure is maintained, but it delays healing by acting as a reservoir for bacterial growth and containing inflammatory mediators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound structure stabilityVSAvoidhealing rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes necrotic tissue from the wound bed through chemical debridement action of the sulfonic acid formulation. The formulation selectively targets and removes necrotic tissue while preserving healthy tissue, thereby eliminating the bacterial reservoir and inflammatory mediators to enable effective healing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The formulation performs preliminary chemical debridement and bacterial destruction before the wound healing process can effectively begin. By pre-treating the wound to remove necrotic tissue and kill bacteria, the formulation prepares the wound bed for subsequent healing activities, thereby accelerating the overall healing rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If strong chemical agents are used to destroy bacterial structural integrity, then antibiotic-resistant and persistent bacteria are eliminated, but the formulation must be carefully controlled to avoid damaging healthy tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibiotic resistance effectivenessVSAvoidtissue damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The formulation exhibits local quality by being selectively active only where necrotic tissue and bacteria are present. The sulfonic acid compounds concentrate their destructive action on damaged tissues and microbial structures while sparing healthy viable tissue, thereby achieving reliable bacterial elimination without causing harmful damage to healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful presence of necrotic tissue and biofilm into a benefit by using the formulation's strong chemical action to specifically target and destroy these harmful elements. The same chemical strength that could potentially damage healthy tissue is instead directed at pathological materials, turning a potential harm into a therapeutic benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 formulations effectively reduce wound size, heal chronic wounds, and prevent bacterial infections by eliminating necrotic tissue and biofilms, reducing inflammation, and being effective against antibiotic-resistant and persistent bacteria, including those in a dormant state.

Implementation Method 1

acts as both a mechanical and chemical debridement agent, desiccating necrotic tissue and biofilms, and disrupting bacterial structural integrity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDesiccation: Desiccation

Implementation Method 2

phenolsulfonic acid, guaiacolsulfonic acid, free sulfuric acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

phenolsulfonic acid, guaiacolsulfonic acid, free sulfuric acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3932401A1Formulation for treating chronic wounds
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 EPIEN MEDICAL INC
  • EP3932401A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3932401A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3932401A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Inventive subject matter disclosed herein includes a method for treating a chronic wound, and methods for treating bacterial infections. The method for treating a chronic wound includes mechanically debriding a chronic wound, and applying a formulation to the wound for 5 to 60 seconds, the formulation including: phenolsulfonic acid-37% by weight; guaiacolsulfonic acid-24% by weight; free sulfuric acid-29% by weight; and water-10% by weight.