Core-Shell Micelle Microspheres for Burst-Release Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microsphere preparations face issues such as drug loss in transit, burst release, and low bioavailability due to inadequate binding and structural instability, particularly when used in expandable balloon drug coatings.

Innovation Solution

A core-shell micelle microsphere with a hydrophilic chain polymer inner layer and amphiphilic lipid outer layer, forming a compact double-layer structure to prevent drug diffusion and enhance compatibility with cell membranes, allowing for sustained and targeted drug release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a drug coating is applied to an expandable balloon surface, then targeted drug delivery is achieved, but drug loss in blood occurs and bioavailability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeted drug deliveryVSAvoiddrug loss in blood
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drug delivery system is segmented into distinct functional layers: an inner hydrophilic chain polymer layer for structural stability and a outer amphiphilic lipid layer for biocompatibility and controlled release. This segmentation allows the hydrophobic core to protect the drug while the hydrophilic outer layer interacts favorably with blood, reducing drug loss and improving bioavailability during targeted delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microsphere employs composite materials combining hydrophilic chain polymers (such as polyethylene glycol or chitosan) with amphiphilic lipids (such as phospholipids). This composite structure creates a dual-function coating that provides both mechanical stability and biological compatibility, enabling targeted drug delivery to vessel walls while minimizing drug loss in the bloodstream through the hydrophobic barrier effect of the lipid layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If a microsphere preparation uses intermolecular forces for drug binding, then the structure is simple, but the binding is not tight enough causing burst release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidbinding strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The microsphere structure applies local quality by creating distinct functional zones: the inner hydrophilic chain polymer layer provides a dense network for strong drug entrapment through multiple weak interactions, while the outer amphiphilic lipid layer provides a hydrophobic barrier. This local differentiation ensures tight drug binding in the core region without requiring complex cross-linking throughout the entire structure, preventing burst release while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If the microsphere surface contains drug, then drug loading is high, but burst release occurs and release period is too short

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug loadingVSAvoidrelease period
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drug is nested within the hydrophobic core formed by the amphiphilic lipid layer, which is itself surrounded by the hydrophilic chain polymer layer. This nested structure allows high drug loading capacity in the protected core while the outer hydrophilic layer controls the release kinetics by providing a hydration-dependent barrier, thereby extending the release period and preventing burst release despite high drug content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 core-shell micelle microsphere reduces drug loss during transit, improves bioavailability, and enables targeted drug delivery with reduced adverse reactions and extended release periods.

Implementation Method 1

the lipophilic end faces out the shell, during transportation in blood, the lipophilic end has a large polarity difference with blood, may form a hydrophobic surface outside the shell, protects a drug molecule from being diffused in blood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic interaction: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

during a preparation, a double-layer spherical shell may be formed in a solvent by means of a similar polarity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvent-mediated self-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 3

the hydrophilic end facing into the shell may be compatible with a hydrophilic inner layer to form a compact double-layer structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilic interaction: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 4

when the microsphere contacts with a blood vessel wall, compatibility between the lipophilic end and a cell membrane is good, particularly phospholipid and the cell membrane have a similar composition and better compatibility, a lipid layer and the cell membrane are dissolved mutually to open a drug delivery channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLipid-membrane dissolution: Amphiphiles

Data Source

PatentEP4643853A1Core-shell structure micellar microsphere, preparation method therefor, and use thereof
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SHANGHAI BIO HEART BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4643853A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4643853A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4643853A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the technical field of medicines, and specifically, relates to a core-shell micelle microsphere, and a preparation method therefor and use thereof. The core-shell micelle microsphere of the present invention has an outer layer shell composed of an amphiphilic lipid, an inner layer shell formed by a hydrophilic chain polymer, and a drug molecule inner core wrapped by a copolymer with a net structure. A drug may be effectively transported through the two-layer shell structure, such that a loss of the drug in a transportation process is reduced, and a utilization rate of the drug is improved. A slow release of the drug is realized by using a wrapped drug molecule as the inner core. The present invention also optimizes a core-shell material, and the amphiphilic phospholipid is selected as the outer layer shell, so as to improve biocompatibility and drug delivery efficiency; the hydrophilic chain polymer is selected as the inner layer shell, so as to effectively prevent a burst release of the drug; and an mPEG-PLGA block copolymer is selected to wrap the drug molecules, so as to further prevent the burst release of the drug, to realize a control of a drug release rate, and to meet a complex requirement in practical use.