Sichuan University Announces $62,000 Technology Transfer of Three pH-Responsive Peptide-Based Biomaterial Patents
Recently, the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Sichuan University released a public notice on the transfer of scientific and technological achievements, whereby Sichuan University intends to transfer patent rights through assignment."Preparation Method of a Peptide Adhesive with Rapid Response to Acidic Environment"(Patent No.: ZL202310244295.6),"A Preparation Method for Composite Bone Powder with Bioactivity and Adhesiveness"(Patent No.: ZL202410545852.2),"A Method for Rapid Hydrogel Formation via Network Contraction under Acidic Conditions"(Patent No.: ZL202310245261.9) and other two patent technologies were transferred as a whole, with the transaction price beingRMB 450,000。
All three patents fall within the field of biomedical materials, focusing on smart responsive peptide/PEG hydrogel systems and covering application scenarios such as tissue adhesives, bone repair materials, and drug delivery carriers. The core technology is based on Switcch peptides that undergo conformational changes under acidic conditions, enabling multi-scenario applications through diverse material designs.
The core inventors of the three patents include Researcher Wu Dongdong and others.
Wu Dongdong:Currently a Distinguished Researcher and Doctoral Supervisor at the Research Center for Biomaterials Engineering, Sichuan University. He has been selected for the National Overseas High-Level Young Talents Program, the Sichuan Province High-Level Young Talents Program, and the Sichuan University “Double Hundred” Talents Program. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Zhejiang University in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Nanjing University in 2012. From September 2012 to August 2020, he held full-time research positions at Brandeis University and the University of Delaware in the United States, Nanjing University, and Umeå University in Sweden. He joined Sichuan University in December 2020 to conduct research. He serves as the principal investigator for a General Program project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. To date, he has published nearly 20 SCI-indexed papers, including a research article as the first author in Nature. His research has created and developed a novel class of highly functionalPeptide-Based Polymeric Materials, the design and development of this material have been highly acclaimed by numerous scientific websites and news outlets, including Phys.org, Nanowerk, Newswise, Nature Asia, Science Daily, Azom.com, ScienceBlog.com, and the U.S. Department of Energy, with some reports describing it as“could transform industries” and “could usher in a new era of materials discovery”.
In addition, the core inventors of the three patents also includeGao Zhanshan, Patent ZL202310245261.9 also includesZhu XiangdongAs a co-inventor, the invention team for Patent No. ZL202410545852.2 includesChen Haijin, Kang Tianmeng, Luo Qiuhao, Ye Haonanet al.
From a technical perspective,All three patents are based onC-Switch-C Peptide Construction. This peptide possesses uniquepH-Responsive Performance: It adopts a linear random coil conformation in a neutral environment (pH ~7.5) and transitions into an α-helical dimeric structure under acidic conditions. This conformational change, accompanied by intermolecular non-covalent interactions, induces property changes in the material such as rapid gelation, enhanced adhesion, or network contraction.
At the molecular design level,C-Switch-C peptide adopts a 26-amino acid sequence (CENQSLEQENSQLKQEISQLEQEIQQLHYGC), containing abundantGlutamate (E) and Glutamine (Q) ResiduesAt neutral pH, the glutamate side chains are deprotonated to form negative charges, and intermolecular electrostatic repulsion causes the polypeptides to adopt a random coil conformation; under acidic conditions, protonation of glutamate neutralizes the charges, allowing the molecular chains to fold into α-helical structures via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, with two polypeptide chains assembling into a supercoiled dimer. Notably, this conformational transition is reversible, offering potential for dynamic regulation of the material.
In terms of technical implementation,The research team adoptedMaleimide-Polyethylene Glycol-Maleimide (Mal-PEG-Mal)As a crosslinking agent, throughMichael Addition Reaction and Cysteine at the Peptide TerminusForming covalent bonds to construct a three-dimensional network structure. This network structure design adoptsCovalent-Noncovalent Hybrid Strategy: The Michael addition reaction between Mal-PEG-Mal and the terminal cysteine residues of the peptide forms a stable covalent backbone, endowing the material with fundamental mechanical strength and structural stability; meanwhile, the α-helical dimers formed by the peptide chains under acidic conditions constitute reversible non-covalent cross-linking points, conferring pH responsiveness to the material. This design enables the material to possess sufficient mechanical strength while maintaining sensitive responsiveness to environmental changes.
Based on this core technology platform, three patents have achieved distinct applications by modulating material concentration and functional components. Patent 1 employs a high-concentration peptide/PEG fiber system (peptide 53–55 mg/mL, PEG 145–147 mg/mL). By optimizing the position of tyrosine (Y) residues within the peptide sequence, it enhances covalent bonding with tissue surface proteins, thereby functioning as a tissue adhesive. Patent 2 utilizes a peptide/PEG network loaded with hydroxyapatite and osteogenic active peptides to prepare bone repair materials. In this system, hydroxyapatite provides an osteoconductive scaffold, osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) promotes osteogenic differentiation, and the Switcch peptide network enhances wet-state adhesiveness through Zn²⁺ cross-linking. Patent 3 uses a lower-concentration peptide/PEG network (peptide 11–12 mg/mL, PEG 15–16 mg/mL), which forms a hydrogel via acid-induced contraction, enabling a controlled process for drug loading and release.
In terms of biosafety,Peptide materials can be degraded into amino acids by proteases under physiological conditions and cleared via normal metabolic pathways. As an FDA-approved medical polymer, PEG has been thoroughly validated for its biocompatibility. This fully biodegradable material system establishes a safety foundation for clinical applications.
From the perspective of market prospects,The field of biomedical materials, in which this technology is situated, is experiencing rapid development. According to a market research report by Grand View Research, the global market size for surgical sealants and adhesives was approximately USD 2.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 5.39 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% from 2024 to 2030. The market size for bone grafts and substitutes was approximately USD 3.16 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.6 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 6.6%. This growth trend reflects the sustained demand for continued development in the field of biomedical materials.
In the existing market for tissue adhesives,Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnsonis one of the leading companies. Its DERMABOND product line, formulated with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, is used for epidermal closure; EVICEL is a fibrin sealant used as an adjunct to hemostasis in surgery. These products have been widely applied in surgical procedures.
In contrast, the technical solution being commercialized by Sichuan University has established a differentiated positioning in terms of material strength and intelligent responsiveness through the design of pH-responsive peptides and covalent-noncovalent hybrid networks. Its ability to respond to acidic microenvironments enables intelligent adhesion and triggered release in pathological conditions such as inflammation and tumors, offering potential for application in specific clinical scenarios. However, further clinical trials and market validation are still required to assess its clinical application and industrialization prospects.