Deformable Nano-Scale Vehicles for Transdermal and Brain Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transdermal and trans-blood brain barrier drug delivery systems face challenges in improving transport, safety, and efficacy, often resulting in systemic toxicity and reduced drug effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNVs) composed of amphipathic vesicle-forming lipids, cholesterol, and non-ionic detergents, capable of transdermal delivery and blood-brain barrier crossing, are developed to encapsulate therapeutic agents, with tunable size, charge, and surface decorations for targeted delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional transdermal and trans-blood brain barrier drug delivery systems are used, then drug delivery is achieved, but systemic toxicity occurs and efficacy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystemic toxicityVSAvoiddrug delivery effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drug delivery system into nanoscale vehicles (50-500 nm) that can be directed to specific barriers (blood-brain barrier, skin barriers). This segmentation allows targeted delivery to reduce systemic toxicity while maintaining efficacy at the target site through localized concentration of therapeutic agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating nanoscale vehicles with specific surface properties (charge, surface decorations) that enable selective interaction with target barriers. The vehicles are designed to concentrate at specific locations (brain, skin) rather than distributing systemically, thereby reducing harmful effects while maintaining delivery effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If existing transdermal drug delivery systems are used, then drug transport is achieved, but transport efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoiddelivery consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs deformable nanoscale vehicles that can dynamically adjust their shape and size to navigate through barriers. The vehicles exhibit flexible membrane properties allowing them to adapt to different barrier densities and compositions, thereby improving transport efficiency while maintaining consistent delivery across various tissue types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in the nanoscale vehicle properties (size, charge, surface composition) to optimize transport efficiency. By tuning these parameters, the vehicles can enhance their interaction with barrier components and improve penetration efficiency while maintaining delivery consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional drug delivery systems are used, then broad coverage is achieved, but targeted delivery to specific sites is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery site specificityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces surface decorations and ligands on the nanoscale vehicles as intermediaries that mediate specific interactions with target barriers and cells. These surface modifications enable the vehicles to recognize and bind to specific receptors on the blood-brain barrier or skin cells, achieving targeted delivery without requiring complex system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

DNVs provide localized and targeted drug delivery, reducing systemic toxicity and increasing efficacy by enhancing drug transport across barriers, allowing for precise delivery to specific sites such as the brain and tumor cells.

Implementation Method 1

Deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNVs) composed of amphipathic vesicle-forming lipids, cholesterol, and non-ionic detergents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

capable of transdermal delivery and blood-brain barrier crossing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNVs) that are elastic nanoparticles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20250295586A1Deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNVS) for trans-blood brain barrier, trans-mucosal, and transdermal drug delivery

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

In various embodiments deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNV) are provided that are useful for the delivery of therapeutic agents. In certain embodiments the DNVs are capable of transdermal delivery and can additionally cross the blood-brain barrier.