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
Technologies to seal pulmonary leaks have the potential to reduce many of the costs associated with prolonged air leaks. Though such biocompatible sealant technologies exist, their adhesive and mechanical properties make them 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 to avoid costlier surgical procedures.
The Technology: Biocompatible lung sealant with tissue-specific metrics
This technology provides a superior pulmonary sealant by combining two components: a loadable extracellular matrix hydrogel carrier 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 on the external surface of the lung, within the airways, or incorporated into existing medical devices such as medical staples in order to promote air-tight sealing. As such, this technology 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 due to pulmonary surgery 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
- Sealant for other soft, 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
Lead Inventor:
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D.
Patent Information:
Patent Issued (US 11,291,747)
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU17095
Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang