Supramolecular Hydrogel Composition for Flexible Adhesion Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adhesion preventing materials face challenges in handling due to low flexibility and stretchability, requiring harsh conditions that are not suitable for biological environments, and may cause adverse effects on living tissues.

Innovation Solution

A polyrotaxane-based hydrogel is developed, which can be produced under mild conditions, such as room temperature to body temperature and neutral pH, without catalysts, and is biodegradable, providing excellent followability and visual recognition of application sites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If film-shaped adhesion preventing material is used, then ease of use is improved, but flexibility and stretchability deteriorate causing cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidflexibility and stretchability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameters by incorporating polyrotaxane with specific molecular weight (100-1000) and cyclodextrin ratios, transforming the material from rigid to flexible while maintaining film-forming capability. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting material parameters to achieve both ease of use and flexibility without cracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If polymer production requires heating and catalysts, then manufacturing capability is improved, but adverse effects on living body increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing capabilityVSAvoidadverse effects on living body

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal and catalytic manufacturing processes with a mechanical mixing approach. The polyrotaxane and cyclodextrin are simply mixed in water at physiological conditions, eliminating the need for heating and catalysts that could harm living tissues. This substitution maintains manufacturing capability while removing harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The material system performs self-assembly and self-gelation at physiological conditions without external intervention. The polyrotaxane and cyclodextrin automatically form the hydrogel structure when mixed in water at body temperature and pH 7.4, eliminating the need for harsh manufacturing conditions and reducing adverse effects on living bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of stationary object

If polyrotaxane is used under mild conditions, then biodegradability is improved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the material system into two separate components: polyrotaxane (with specific molecular weight 100-1000) and cyclodextrin (in 1:1 to 1:10 weight ratio). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for biodegradability while simplifying the overall production process to just mixing these pre-defined components in water at physiological conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 polyrotaxane hydrogel is easily prepared and used as an adhesion preventing material, avoiding adverse effects on living bodies, with excellent followability and transparency, allowing visual monitoring of adhesion prevention.

Implementation Method 1

a polyrotaxane-based hydrogel is developed, which can be produced under mild conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

an axial molecule represented by Formula (2) is threaded into a cyclodextrin ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInclusion complex: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250326897A1Method for preparing supramolecular hydrogel, and application as biomaterial

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORP INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO

AI summary

The present invention provides a polyrotaxane having a chemical structure in which an axial molecule represented by Formula (2) is threaded into a cyclodextrin ring in a compound represented by Formula (1). In Formula (1), CD is a cyclodextrin ring, L2 is a divalent organic group, L3 is an ethylene group or a propylene group, RA is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group, and m is an integer of 0 to 35. Provided that when L2 and N are linked by a double bond, RA is not present. In Formula (2), R is a hydrocarbon group larger than an inner diameter of the cyclodextrin ring, X is a divalent organic group, and a is an integer of 100 to 1000.