Bortezomib Boronic Ester Linkage for pH-Triggered Intracellular Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Bortezomib administration leads to significant peripheral neuropathies, which limit its clinical use due to dose-dependent collateral effects, and existing drug delivery systems do not effectively mitigate these side effects while ensuring targeted intracellular release.

Innovation Solution

Development of Bortezomib derivatives that form boronic ester linkages with a linker molecule, allowing stable transport through neutral pH environments and pH-induced degradation at intracellular acid pH, enabling targeted release within the intracellular environment, using micro- or nanoparticle systems for enhanced delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Bortezomib is administered directly to achieve therapeutic effect, then antineoplastic activity is improved, but peripheral neuropathies and collateral effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidperipheral neuropathies
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a carrier system with pH-sensitive boronic ester linkages as an intermediary between the drug and the target. The carrier protects Bortezomib during transport through neutral pH blood circulation and releases it specifically in the acidic intracellular environment of tumor cells, thereby maintaining therapeutic efficacy while reducing peripheral neuropathies caused by systemic exposure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If Bortezomib is stabilized in neutral pH for bloodstream transport, then drug stability is improved, but intracellular release capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug stabilityVSAvoidrelease capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent exploits pH as a critical parameter to control drug behavior. The boronic ester linkage exhibits pH-dependent stability: it remains stable at neutral pH (7.4) for bloodstream transport but undergoes hydrolysis at acidic pH (4.5-5.0) in intracellular compartments, enabling automatic release of Bortezomib at the target site without sacrificing transport stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional drug delivery systems are used to reduce side effects, then collateral effects are reduced, but targeted intracellular release is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollateral effectsVSAvoidtargeted release precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent imparts different chemical properties to different parts of the drug-delivery system. The carrier surface maintains neutral pH compatibility for circulation, while the intracellular compartment experiences acidic pH that triggers selective drug release. This spatial variation in pH sensitivity ensures both reduced collateral effects and precise intracellular release at the tumor cell level

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 Bortezomib derivatives achieve reduced collateral effects by maintaining stability in neutral pH and releasing the active drug at acidic intracellular pH, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing peripheral neuropathies and improving treatment outcomes for tumors.

Implementation Method 1

They are stable in a neutral environment but are capable of being degraded in a slightly acid environment (pH = 4.5 - 5.0) releasing the drug Bortezomib

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3288955B1Bortezomib-based delivery system
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 NANOSILICAL DEVICES SRL
  • EP3288955B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3288955B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3288955B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a class of molecules obtained for conjugating a species or substrate to Bortezomib by means of bonds of the boronic diester type which are stable in a neutral environment but which are capable of being degraded in a slightly acid environment (pH = 4.5 - 5.0) releasing the drug Bortezomib and which can also be conjugated on the surface of a micro-nanosystem (a type of substrate) for the delivery of drugs in such a way as to become a constituent thereof. They represent a class of Bortezomib prodrugs with respect to hydrolysis of the boronic ester. They may be used in the transport and release of Bortezomib when it is necessary to diffuse it in slightly acid pH environments after passing through neutral pH environments in which the drug remains stably conjugated in the form of a non-biologically-active boronic ester. In practice the invention may be used for the intracellular release of Bortezomib where the latter will permit the drug to be transported in a biologically inactive form through the blood flow while undergoing pH-induced chemical degradation once introduced into the intracellular environment, inducing diffusion of the therapeutically effective form of Bortezomib. In the situation where this is used as a constituent of a drug delivery system, it will be anchored thereto and being provided with a delivery function it will be capable of reaching the intracellular environment at pH 4.5 where degradation of the prodrug to which the invention relates will take place, inducing diffusion of the Bortezomib.