Biological Tissue Clearing via Hydrogel Polymerization

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical force of electrophoresis with a chemical method using hydrogel formation and enzymatic lipid removal. The hydrogel matrix provides a supportive environment that enables gentle chemical processing instead of forceful electrical separation, thereby maintaining tissue integrity while achieving rapid lipid removal through biochemical mechanisms rather than mechanical stress.

The patent introduces a hydrogel as an intermediary medium between the tissue and the lipid removal process. The hydrogel serves as a protective matrix that facilitates enzymatic lipid removal while preventing direct contact between harsh processing agents and the tissue, thus reducing tissue damage while maintaining processing efficiency.

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the lipid removal process by transitioning from gentle mechanical shaking to a controlled chemical environment with hydrogel formation and enzymatic action. This parameter change enables the process to achieve the same tissue-friendly conditions as shaking while dramatically reducing the time required from weeks to days, as the chemical and enzymatic mechanisms act more efficiently than pure mechanical shaking.

The patent employs a composite system combining hydrogel matrix with enzymatic agents and other chemical components. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where the hydrogel provides structural support and controlled diffusion, while enzymatic agents rapidly degrade lipids, achieving both tissue preservation and time efficiency that neither component could achieve alone.