Capsule Microneedle Actuator for GI Tract Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biologic drugs like insulin face challenges in traversing the gastrointestinal tract due to degradation by enzymes and difficulty in diffusing through the GI tract tissue, leading to patient discomfort and reduced compliance with treatment regimens.
Innovation Solution
A capsule-based actuating component with a central core and extending arms, featuring a pre-deployment and deployed configuration, where the arms unfold and deploy microneedles to penetrate the tissue, allowing for targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents directly into the GI tract tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If biologic drugs are administered orally through the gastrointestinal tract, then patient compliance improves, but the drugs undergo degradation by enzymes and cannot diffuse readily through the GI tract tissue walls
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the drug delivery function by separating the oral administration route from the actual drug release location. The capsule delivers the actuating component to the GI tract, where microneedles penetrate the tissue to release the drug directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the harmful GI tract environment while maintaining oral administration convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle acts as an intermediary that bridges the GI tract lumen and the bloodstream. It penetrates the tissue wall to create a direct pathway for drug delivery, allowing the drug to bypass enzyme degradation in the GI tract while being administered orally.
2Ease of operation
If traditional oral pills are used, then administration is simple, but the cargo transits via convection and diffusion to the tissue wall resulting in drug degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the microneedles within the actuating component during manufacturing. The microneedles are prepared and loaded with drug before administration, ready to penetrate the tissue wall immediately upon deployment in the GI tract, preventing drug exposure to degrading enzymes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the drug from the harmful GI tract environment by using microneedles to deliver it directly into the bloodstream. The drug is taken out of the liquid GI tract where enzymes cause degradation and placed directly into the target tissue for effective delivery.
3Reliability
If subcutaneous injection is used to deliver biologic drugs, then drug delivery is effective, but patient discomfort increases and treatment initiation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical injection system with an oral delivery system. Instead of using a syringe and needle for subcutaneous injection, the device uses an orally administered capsule that deploys microneedles automatically in the GI tract, eliminating the need for manual injection while maintaining effective drug delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating component performs self-service by automatically deploying the microneedles after oral administration. The device self-activates in the GI tract environment, eliminating the need for external injection equipment or skilled personnel, thereby improving patient comfort and ease of use.
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
Enables efficient and effective delivery of pharmaceutical agents, such as insulin, by avoiding long passage through the GI tract, reducing degradation, and improving bioavailability compared to traditional administration methods.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of microneedles engage with a least a portion of tissue at the location internal to the subject
Data Source
AI summary
Actuating components and related methods are generally disclosed. Certain embodiments comprise an actuating component associated with a plurality of microneedles (e.g., for administering a therapeutic agent to a subject). In some embodiments, the actuating component may be administered to a subject such that the plurality of microneedles are deployed at a location internal to the subject (e.g., in the gastrointestinal tract). The actuating component may be contained within, in some embodiments, a capsule (e.g., for oral administration to a subject). In some embodiments, the actuating component has a pre-deployment configuration in which the plurality of microneedles have a first orientation and a deployed configuration in which the plurality of microneedles have a second orientation, different than the first orientation.