Biodegradable Composite Embolization Beads for Tumor Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current embolization methods for treating liver cancers, such as HCC, face challenges including irregularly shaped and sized microspheres that can aggregate, leading to suboptimal treatment due to non-uniform distribution and potential occlusion of vessels, as well as the use of non-biodegradable materials that remain in the body indefinitely, causing recurrence and difficulty in tracking treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
Development of micro-beads comprising a biodegradable matrix with embedded or appended nano-beads, which can include radionuclides, chemotherapeutic agents, and cell-penetrating peptides, designed to degrade over time, ensuring homogeneous distribution and release of therapeutic agents deep within the tumor tissue while being biocompatible and potentially visualizable for imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polyvinyl alcohol particles are used for embolization, then vessel occlusion is achieved, but particle aggregation occurs leading to non-uniform distribution and suboptimal treatment outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of embolic particles by creating a composite structure with a biodegradable polymer matrix and embedded nano-beads. This composite structure maintains structural integrity while preventing aggregation, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the tumor vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a biodegradable polymer matrix with nano-beads containing radionuclides, chemotherapeutic agents, or both. This composite approach provides both mechanical embolization function and targeted therapeutic delivery, while the matrix structure prevents particle aggregation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If non-biodegradable materials are used for embolization beads, then long-lasting vessel occlusion is achieved, but the materials remain in the body indefinitely causing recurrence and tracking difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic properties by using a biodegradable polymer matrix that gradually degrades over time. This allows the embolic agent to provide long-lasting occlusion initially, then progressively break down and be eliminated from the body, preventing recurrence and allowing natural clearance mechanisms to function.
3Reliability
If microspheres are used for embolization, then blood flow to tumors is blocked, but irregular shape and size variations cause aggregation and proximal vessel occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent standardizes the physical parameters of embolic particles by using a uniform microbead structure with consistent size and shape. The biodegradable polymer matrix provides structural uniformity, preventing aggregation and ensuring predictable flow dynamics during catheter-directed delivery to tumor vasculature.
4Measurement precision
If beads are coated with chemotherapeutic drugs or radionuclides, then targeted cancer cell destruction is achieved, but the coating may not penetrate deeply enough into tumor tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by embedding nano-beads containing chemotherapeutic agents or radionuclides within the microbead matrix. This nested structure allows the outer microbead to provide embolization and vascular targeting, while the inner nano-beads provide deep penetration and sustained therapeutic release directly at the tumor site.
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 micro-beads provide a more effective and targeted treatment by ensuring deeper penetration and uniform distribution of therapeutic agents, reducing recurrence and improving treatment accuracy, while being biodegradable and non-toxic, facilitating safer and more effective cancer therapy.
Implementation Method 1
the use of non-biodegradable materials such as glass, and can remain in the patients' blood vessels indefinitely
Implementation Method 2
a biodegradable matrix... designed to degrade over time
Implementation Method 3
the small beads (a.k.a microspheres) are coated or loaded with a radioactive isotope. Once the beads are injected and lodged within the tumor vasculature, they emit small amounts of radiation and therefore destroy the malignant tumor cells within a given proximity
Implementation Method 4
the surface of the beads is coated with a chemotherapeutical drug such as Doxorubicin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for imaging and treating various diseases and disorders, including cancers. The composition of the invention can include a plurality of biodegradable micro-beads, each embedding a plurality of nano-beads, further including a polymer, a radionuclide, a radionuclide chelator, a radioligand, a chemotherapeutic agent, and a cell-penetrating peptide. Upon injection into a blood vessel supplying a cancer tumor, the micro-beads lodge into the tumor and degrade, releasing the nano-beads with a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more homogeneous and deeper distribution of radiation or chemotherapeutic agents throughout the target tumor. The micro-beads provide a local, sustained, and controlled delivery nano-beads including therapeutic or diagnostic agents.