Biodegradable Composite Film for Oral Biologic Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging solutions for oral biologics, particularly vaccines, face challenges such as ease of separation from solid vehicle substances, difficulty in opening blister packs, and unsuitability for various animal species due to anatomical and consumption behavior issues, leading to ineffective oral administration.

Innovation Solution

A sealable molded body formed from a composite film with specific layer configurations, including a sealing layer, a nonwoven material layer for adhesion, and a barrier layer, which is biologically degradable, thermoformable, and provides high barrier properties against water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, ensuring effective packaging and administration of oral biologics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional blister pack is used to package oral biologics, then the packaging provides protection, but it is easy to separate from the solid vehicle substance and difficult to open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging integrityVSAvoidopening difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is divided into two distinct layers: an outer water-soluble layer and an inner barrier layer. This segmentation allows the outer layer to dissolve in the animal's mouth, automatically opening the packaging and releasing the inner barrier layer with the biologic, thus resolving the opening difficulty while maintaining protection during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The water-soluble outer layer acts as an intermediary that dissolves in the animal's oral fluids to release the inner barrier layer. This intermediary mechanism transforms the packaging from a manually opened structure to one that opens automatically through dissolution, solving the ease of operation problem while the inner layer maintains reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a blister pack is used for oral biologics, then protection is provided, but it separates easily from solid vehicle substances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging protectionVSAvoidpackaging-substance bond stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging uses a composite structure with an outer water-soluble polymer layer and an inner barrier layer. This composite material design creates different functional properties in each layer: the outer layer provides strong adhesion to solid vehicle substances and stability during transport, while the inner layer provides barrier protection, resolving both protection and bond stability requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If a standard bait format is used, then it works for some animals, but it is unsuitable for other wild animals with different food consumption behavior and anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal species adaptabilityVSAvoidvaccine administration effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging design incorporates multiple functional layers that serve different purposes: the water-soluble outer layer enables dissolution in oral fluids for species that lick or chew, while the inner barrier layer provides protection for species that swallow whole. This multi-functionality allows the same packaging to adapt to different animal consumption behaviors and anatomies, improving versatility while maintaining administration effectiveness through the water-soluble opening mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables efficient and effective oral administration of biologics by maintaining the integrity of the vaccine within the packaging, accommodating different animal anatomies and consumption behaviors, and ensuring environmental sustainability through biodegradability.

Implementation Method 1

provides high barrier properties against water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBarrier properties: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

has an adhesive layer for hydrophilic substances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

the composite film is preferably biologically degradable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2775986B1Film packaging for oral biologics

Publication Date: 2020.12.30 CEVA SANTE ANIMALE SA

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Figure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a sealable, molded body and the production thereof, as well as a composite film for the formation of the molded body, and the use of the molded body for the packaging of oral biologies, in particular orally applicable vaccines. The composite film comprises two outer layers, one of the outer layers is formed as a sealing layer, or a barrier layer or a carrier layer, and the other outer layer has a rough or uneven or microstructured surface or comprises at least a nonwoven material, an adhesive material, a sticky material or a combination thereof. It is preferred that the composite film is biologically degradable. A molded body, which takes up the biologic or the vaccine, is formed from the composite film by thermoforming, and is then sealed.