Econazole Nitrate Patch with Thiourea for Nail Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for onychomycosis, such as oral antifungal agents and topical lacquers, face challenges in effectively penetrating the nail plate due to its barrier properties, leading to poor efficacy and prolonged treatment durations.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical composition comprising econazole nitrate, a permeability enhancer like thiourea, and additional components such as propylene glycol and triethyl citrate, formulated into a medical patch that adheres to the nail, enhancing drug penetration and delivery to the nail bed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oral antifungal agents are used to treat onychomycosis, then treatment efficacy is improved, but side effects and patient compliance issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a permeability enhancer as an intermediary substance that facilitates the penetration of antifungal drugs through the nail plate barrier. This enhancer acts as a mediator between the drug and the nail plate, increasing drug delivery to the infection site without requiring systemic oral administration, thereby reducing side effects while maintaining efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the drug delivery system by incorporating permeability enhancers that change the permeability properties of the nail plate. This parameter change allows topically applied drugs to penetrate more effectively, achieving oral-level efficacy through a non-systemic route and avoiding associated side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If topical lacquers are applied to treat onychomycosis, then application convenience is improved, but penetration effectiveness worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication convenienceVSAvoidpenetration effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates permeability enhancers as intermediary substances within the topical lacquer formulation. These enhancers actively facilitate drug penetration through the nail plate barrier, transforming the lacquer from a merely adhesive coating into an effective delivery system that maintains convenience while significantly improving penetration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite topical formulation combining antifungal drugs with permeability enhancers and adhesive components. This composite material system leverages the adhesive properties of lacquers for convenient application while the embedded permeability enhancers ensure effective penetration, resolving the contradiction between ease of application and penetration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If conventional topical formulations are used, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but drug penetration into nail plate worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation simplicityVSAvoiddrug penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces permeability enhancers as intermediary components that specifically target the nail plate barrier. These enhancers interact with the nail plate structure to increase permeability, enabling conventional simple formulations to achieve enhanced drug penetration without requiring complex delivery mechanisms or systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If treatment duration is extended to improve efficacy, then treatment completeness is improved, but patient compliance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment completenessVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the penetration parameter of the nail plate through the use of permeability enhancers, allowing drugs to reach therapeutic concentrations more rapidly and effectively. This parameter change accelerates the treatment process, reducing the time required to achieve complete efficacy and improving patient compliance by shortening the treatment duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 patch formulation significantly improves the penetration of econazole nitrate into the nail plate and nail bed, achieving a higher concentration of the drug at the site of infection, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy for onychomycosis.

Implementation Method 1

the permeability enhancer thiourea...enhancing drug penetration and delivery to the nail bed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

thiourea, which can break the disulphide bond of the keratin, and directly acts on the nail plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12303491B2Econazole nitrate medical patch and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 TEMPLE UNIV

AI summary

The invention provides an econazole nitrate and thiourea medical patch for the treatment of nail and skin onychomycosis, achieving improved drug penetration, and thus allowing more drug to penetrate into the nail bed and reach the minimum inhibitory concentration.