Gastro-resistant Butyrate Salt Formulation for Systemic Inflammation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments using butyrate salts are limited to addressing intestinal diseases and do not effectively manage conditions associated with systemic inflammation, which are not confined to the intestine.

Innovation Solution

Development of a gastro-resistant butyrate salt formulation for enteral administration that targets the intestine, reducing systemic inflammation by binding to intestinal epithelial cells, reducing permeability, and modulating cytokine release, thereby treating conditions such as osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and other non-intestinal diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If butyrate salts are administered orally for intestinal diseases, then intestinal conditions are treated, but systemic inflammatory diseases are not effectively managed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddisease scope
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the application of butyrate salts from treating only intestinal diseases to treating both intestinal and systemic inflammatory diseases. The gastro-resistant formulation delivers butyrate to the intestine where it modulates immune responses and reduces systemic inflammation, enabling one treatment to address multiple disease categories including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If butyrate is delivered to the intestine via oral administration, then intestinal absorption occurs, but significant systemic butyrate levels are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystemic butyrate levelsVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a gastro-resistant formulation as an intermediary delivery system that protects butyrate from degradation in the stomach and ensures targeted release in the intestine. This mediator approach allows butyrate to exert its anti-inflammatory effects through intestinal immune modulation rather than requiring high systemic concentrations, avoiding the need for complex high-dose delivery systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of butyrate delivery by using gastro-resistant encapsulation that controls release timing and location. This parameter change enables butyrate to remain stable through gastric passage and release specifically in the intestinal environment, where it can be absorbed and exert local immunomodulatory effects without needing to achieve high systemic levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If butyrate salts are used for intestinal diseases, then specific intestinal conditions are treated, but non-intestinal diseases associated with systemic inflammation are not addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease treatment rangeVSAvoidsystemic anti-inflammatory effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the intestine's natural role as an immune interface with the external environment. By delivering butyrate to the intestine, the body's own immune system is modulated at its primary interface, where butyrate acts on intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells to reduce systemic inflammation. This self-service approach uses the intestine's strategic position to generate systemic anti-inflammatory effects without requiring direct delivery to distant organs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11083700B2Butyrate salts for use in inflammatory diseases
Publication Date: 2021.08.10 BIRRBEHEER BV

AI summary

This invention relates to preparations comprising a butyrate salt for enteral administration for use in the treatment of conditions and diseases that are not diseases or conditions of the intestine and/or are associated with systemic inflammation. Preparations comprising a butyrate salt for enteral administration were found useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, migraine, idiopathic subfertility, hangovers, and gout.