Activated Carbon Pharmaceutical Coating for Gastrointestinal Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pharmaceutical compositions of activated carbon for treating gastrointestinal issues, such as fistulas and irritable bowel diseases, face challenges including contamination due to fine powder form, unpredictable activity loss during oral administration, and adverse effects from adsorbing essential chemicals and nutrients.
Innovation Solution
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a core of activated carbon coated with an insoluble semipermeable material layer and an enteric layer that dissolves at a predetermined pH, allowing controlled release and minimizing adsorption of beneficial substances until reaching the site of action in the gastrointestinal tract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If activated carbon is administered orally as a fine powder, then it can be easily absorbed and distributed throughout the digestive system, but it causes contamination of the immediate surroundings with fine powder dust and has unpredictable activity loss during passage through the digestive system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies coating technologies to encase the activated carbon particles in a protective shell that prevents fine powder dust from contaminating the surroundings while allowing controlled release of the carbon's adsorptive activity at the target site in the digestive system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coating layer as an intermediary substance between the activated carbon and the digestive system environment, which protects the carbon from premature activity loss and controls its release timing and location
2Reliability
If large doses of activated carbon are administered orally to increase the proportion reaching the rectum in activated state, then treatment effectiveness may improve, but it causes adsorption of essential chemicals and nutrients during passage through the digestive system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the activated carbon formulation - the coating layer is designed to be resistant to adsorption in the upper digestive system while allowing controlled release in the lower digestive system, thereby localizing the adsorptive activity to where it is most needed for treatment while preserving essential nutrients
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the activated carbon formulation through coating, changing its interaction characteristics with substances in the digestive system to reduce premature adsorption while maintaining treatment effectiveness at the target site
3Object-generated harmful factors
If activated carbon is coated or encapsulated to allow passage through the digestive system, then it may reduce contamination, but the coating or encapsulation material itself may reduce or eliminate the activity of the carbon through adsorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects and adjusts the parameters of the coating material to ensure it provides protective functions without compromising the activated carbon's adsorptive activity, using materials with appropriate porosity, surface area, and chemical properties that minimize interaction with the carbon
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining activated carbon particles with coating materials, where the composite is designed to maintain the functional properties of both components - the carbon's adsorptive activity and the coating's protective functions
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 composition maintains adsorptive activity throughout the digestive system, reducing side effects and ensuring effective treatment of gastrointestinal issues by minimizing exposure to the stomach environment and optimizing delivery to the colon.
Implementation Method 1
an enteric layer which dissolves at a predetermined pH
Implementation Method 2
an inner layer around the core, the inner layer comprising an insoluble semipermeable material
Implementation Method 3
activated carbon has a high surface area... a large (and also unpredictable) proportion of the carbon will have adsorbed various chemicals
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising activated carbon particles, for oral administration. The pharmaceutical composition may be for (use in) the treatment of gastrointestinal fistula.