Multilayered biocompatible and loadable bio-sealant for pulmonary air leaks

This technology is a biomechanically compliant and loadable multilayered sealant for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary air leaks.

Unmet Need: Biocompatible lung sealant compliant with dynamic lung mechanics

New materials and methodologies capable to seal pulmonary leaks in the wet environment of the lung have the potential to reduce many of the risks and costs associated with air leaks in the lung. Though such biocompatible sealant technologies exist, they are poorly suited to the expansion, contraction, and other dynamic processes of the lung. Therefore, there is a continuing need for an effective lung sealant that can be used to treat pulmonary air leaks.

The Product: Biocompatible lung sealant with tissue-specific metrics

This product is a superior pulmonary sealant developed by combining two components: a loadable hydrogel carrier derived from the lung extracellular matrix and a porous thermogel patch. The biosealant is multi-layered with a tissue-specific (e.g., lung parenchymal- or pleural-derived) extracellular matrix hydrogel carrier loaded with therapeutic cells, microsomes, peptides, or drugs. The sealant can be applied by spraying the external surface of the lung, within the airways, or incorporated into existing medical devices such as medical staples and sutures in order to promote air-tight sealing. As such, this sealant can be used post-operatively to treat air leaks or applied prophylactically to reduce the incidence of air leaks during pulmonary surgery, thereby reducing the risk of complications and improving patient outcomes.

A prototype of this technology has been validated in a lung injury model.

Applications:

• Post-operative sealant following pulmonary surgery
• Prophylactic treatment against potential pulmonary puncture during surgery or biopsy
• Sealant for other soft, moist and flexible tissues such as the alimentary canal or skin burns
• Sealant to be applied over sutures or staple sites
• Integration into medical devices such as staples to improve healing
• Delivery of therapeutic cargo

Advantages:

• Biocompatible
• Mimics physiologically relevant microenvironment
• Non-irritating and nontoxic
• Flexible polymer patch mechanically compliant with lung function
• Can be used for other soft, flexible tissues and wounds
• Can be applied over sutures or staples

Inventors:

The team of Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU17095

• Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer