Donepezil Transdermal Patch Crystallization Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional donepezil transdermal formulations fail to sustainably administer the drug over a long period while achieving rapid blood absorption and preventing crystallization, leading to inadequate drug release and side effects.

Innovation Solution

A transdermal absorption formulation using a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer base with hydrogenated rosin glycerin ester and liquid paraffin, optimized blend ratios, and an absorption promoter to dissolve donepezil, preventing crystallization and maintaining adhesion properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If donepezil is administered orally or via injection, then the drug can be delivered to the patient, but patients with advanced dementia cannot take the medication and side effects occur in the digestive and nervous systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of administrationVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional oral/injection administration route with transdermal delivery. The donepezil is delivered through the skin via a patch system, eliminating the need for swallowing pills or receiving injections, which is particularly beneficial for patients with advanced dementia who cannot take oral medication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the skin as an intermediary pathway for drug delivery. Instead of delivering donepezil directly to the gastrointestinal tract or bloodstream through injection, the drug is applied topically and absorbed through the skin, bypassing the digestive system and reducing associated side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional transdermal formulations are used, then the drug can be delivered transdermally, but the formulations cannot sustainably administer donepezil over a long period of time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of sustained releaseVSAvoidreliability of drug delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite adhesive system containing multiple polymers (polyisobutylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene) in specific ratios. This composite material provides both sustained drug release over extended periods and reliable adhesive performance, solving the contradiction between duration and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight distribution and composition ratios of the adhesive polymers to control the release kinetics of donepezil. By adjusting these parameters, the formulation achieves both long-term sustained release and consistent drug delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the adhesive layer contains high drug concentration, then more donepezil is available for absorption, but the adhesive layer loses cohesiveness and transfers adhesive to the skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug concentrationVSAvoidcohesiveness of adhesive layer
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the drug concentration within the adhesive layer and adjusts the polymer composition and molecular weight distribution to maintain adhesive cohesiveness. By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves sufficient drug availability without compromising the structural integrity of the adhesive layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-component polymer system provides a balanced matrix that can accommodate donepezil at therapeutic concentrations while maintaining strong cohesive properties. The different polymers work synergistically to prevent adhesive transfer to the skin even at optimized drug loading levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If the adhesive layer is made more cohesive to prevent adhesive transfer, then adhesive stability is improved, but the skin permeation rate of donepezil decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecohesiveness of adhesive layerVSAvoidskin permeation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight and composition of the adhesive polymers to create a matrix with appropriate free volume and permeability. This allows the adhesive layer to maintain cohesiveness while still permitting adequate diffusion and permeation of donepezil through the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a proven adhesive system composition that has been shown to balance cohesiveness and permeability. By replicating this optimized formulation approach, the patent achieves both strong adhesive properties and sufficient drug permeation rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 formulation achieves rapid and sustained donepezil absorption into the bloodstream, avoiding digestive and nervous system side effects, and maintaining effective drug release without crystallization during long-term storage.

Implementation Method 1

a transdermal absorption formulation in which the drug contained as the active ingredient is donepezil... dissolving donepezil in an adhesive patch base that includes a hydrophobic polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

transdermally absorbable donepezil-containing preparation... transdermal absorption formulation that includes a supporting material and an adhesive layer containing an adhesive base and a drug

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

an adhesive preparation having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one face of a support, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer contains more than 5% by mass... of a drug in a molten state and in a crystalline state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP2491931B1Transdermally absorbable donepezil-containing preparation
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 TEIKOKU SEIYAKU CO LTD
  • EP2491931B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2491931B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2491931B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a donepezil-containing transdermal absorption formulation that can sustainably administer donepezil for a long period of time, and can provide both a rapid increase in the blood level of donepezil and donepezil sustained release properties. The donepezil-containing transdermal absorption formulation is a transdermal absorption formulation produced by dissolving donepezil, which is the active ingredient, in an adhesive patch base that contains a hydrophobic polymer and an absorption promoter. The absorption promoter is one kind or two or more kinds selected from lauryl alcohol, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, cetyl lactate, oleyl alcohol, sorbitan monooleate, polyethylene glycol monostearate, lauromacrogol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and triacetin.