Methane Inhibitor Bolus With Biodegradable Controlled Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for delivering hydrophobic methane inhibiting compounds to animals, such as bromoform, face challenges in stability, controlled release, and durability, particularly in the animal's stomach, which affects the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and animal productivity.
Innovation Solution
A bolus device comprising a core with hydrophobic fumed silica and ethyl cellulose, optionally with bromoform, and a housing made of biodegradable polymers like PLA and PBAT, designed for sustained release of methane inhibitors in ruminant animals, ensuring stability and controlled delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrophobic methane inhibiting compounds are delivered to animals using conventional devices, then the substance can be administered, but the device lacks stability and controlled release capability in the animal's stomach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials consisting of a biodegradable polymer matrix (such as poly lactic acid, poly glycolic acid, or polylactic-co-glycolic acid) combined with hydrophobic methane inhibiting compounds. This composite structure provides both stability through the polymer matrix and controlled release through the hydrophobic compound degradation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the biodegradable polymer matrix, specifically controlling degradation rate through molecular weight, crystallinity, and composition ratios. By adjusting these parameters, the device achieves stable performance and controlled release characteristics without requiring complex structural modifications.
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional delivery devices are used for hydrophobic compounds, then administration is possible, but controlled release over extended periods is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves extended release duration (several months) by carefully selecting and adjusting polymer parameters such as molecular weight, glass transition temperature, and degradation rate. This allows precise control over the release timeline without requiring complex manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between duration and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The biodegradable polymer matrix provides continuous degradation and release of the hydrophobic methane inhibiting compound throughout the entire duration of the device's action. This continuous action mechanism ensures sustained release over several months while maintaining consistent release rates through controlled polymer degradation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrophobic compounds are administered to reduce methane emissions, then greenhouse gas reduction is achieved, but the compound stability in the animal stomach is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The biodegradable polymer matrix serves as an intermediary carrier that protects the hydrophobic methane inhibiting compound from degradation in the animal stomach. The polymer matrix maintains compound stability through its protective environment while still allowing controlled release to achieve methane emission reduction, resolving the contradiction between harmful factor reduction and composition stability.
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 bolus provides a stable and controlled release of methane inhibitors over several months, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing animal productivity by optimizing feed conversion to weight gain or milk production.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier, wherein the carrier comprises hydrophobic fumed silica and/or comprises a combination of ethyl cellulose and HPMC
Implementation Method 2
sustained release dosage forms comprising a methane inhibiting substance
Implementation Method 3
a housing which covers at least a portion of the core
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a dosage form and a bolus configured for administration to an animal, wherein said dosage form and said bolus is configured to release a methane inhibitor to the animal over a period of time. Preferably the methane inhibitor is a haloform. Also provided is the use of the bolus of the invention to reduce methane production in a ruminant animal. Also provided is the method of manufacturing a bolus of the invention.