Biodegradable Ceramic Carrier for Prostate Drug Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostatitis often result in significant side effects and require invasive procedures, with systemic hormonal therapies causing extensive side effects and prolonged exposure to medications, while existing delivery methods for localized treatments are cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A kit comprising a boost dose of anti-androgen or cytostatic agents followed by a controlled release pharmaceutical composition in a biodegradable ceramic carrier, allowing for localized administration directly to the prostate tissue, providing immediate and sustained therapeutic effects with reduced systemic exposure and side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If systemic hormonal therapy is used to treat prostate cancer, then cancer treatment efficacy is improved, but extensive side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecancer treatment efficacyVSAvoidsystemic side effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by delivering anti-androgen therapy directly to the prostate tissue through intraprostate injection, creating a localized high concentration of drug at the tumor site while minimizing systemic distribution. This localized delivery approach maintains cancer treatment efficacy through direct exposure of prostate cancer cells to therapeutic concentrations of anti-androgen agents, while simultaneously reducing extensive systemic side effects by limiting the drug's presence in other body tissues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary delivery system consisting of a biodegradable carrier matrix that facilitates controlled release of anti-androgen drugs from the injection site into the prostate tissue. This intermediary mechanism allows sustained local concentration of the drug over time, maintaining therapeutic efficacy while preventing rapid systemic absorption that would cause extensive side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If prolonged exposure to medications is used to treat prostate diseases, then treatment duration is extended, but accumulation of side effects occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment durationVSAvoidaccumulation of side effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action through controlled release formulation that maintains sustained therapeutic concentrations of anti-androgen drugs within the prostate tissue over extended periods (weeks to months). The biodegradable carrier system continuously releases the drug at controlled rates, ensuring prolonged treatment duration and effective cancer control while preventing the accumulation of toxic side effects through controlled, gradual release rather than high-dose prolonged exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the release rate and concentration profile of the anti-androgen drug through the biodegradable carrier system. The controlled release mechanism adjusts the temporal and spatial parameters of drug delivery, maintaining therapeutic levels locally over time while preventing systemic accumulation. This parameter control allows extended treatment duration without proportional increase in systemic side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If frequent injections are used to maintain therapeutic levels, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient burden and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a sustained release reservoir of anti-androgen drug within the prostate tissue through a single intraprostate injection. This preliminary placement of the controlled release formulation creates a long-lasting therapeutic source that eliminates the need for frequent repeat injections. The biodegradable carrier system is pre-loaded with the drug and designed to release it continuously over weeks to months, maintaining treatment effectiveness while dramatically reducing patient burden and procedural invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If local delivery of active substances is implemented, then side effects are minimized, but delivery complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystemic side effectsVSAvoiddelivery system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable biodegradable carrier system that is injected directly into the prostate tissue and subsequently degrades harmlessly over time. This single-use, biodegradable formulation eliminates the need for complex, reusable delivery devices or surgical implants. The carrier material is designed to be inexpensive, biocompatible, and self-degrading, providing local drug delivery effectiveness while minimizing delivery system complexity and avoiding the need for sophisticated retrieval or long-term monitoring mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This approach ensures high, predictable local drug availability, minimizing systemic side effects and extending treatment duration, with the controlled release mechanism maintaining therapeutic concentrations over weeks to months, reducing the need for frequent injections and invasive procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a controlled release pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more active substances in a biodegradable carrier. The carrier is biocompatible.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP1865924B1Method for treating prostate diseases based on local delivery of active substances
Publication Date: 2015.12.09 LIDDS AB
  • EP1865924B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1865924B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1865924B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for treating prostate related diseases in a subject, the method comprising i) optionally administering to subject an initial boost dose of one or more active substances and/or prodrugs, and ii) administering locally into the prostate a controlled release pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more active substances in a biodegradable ceramic carrier. The biodegradable hydrating ceramic may be selected from the group consisting of non-hydrated or hydrated calcium sulphate, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium silicate, magnesium sulphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium fluoride, magnesium silicate, barium sulphate, barium phosphate, barium carbonate, barium fluoride, barium silicate, or mixtures thereof. In a specific embodiment, the biodegradable hydrating ceramic is non-hydrated or hydrated calcium sulphate.