Electroactive Supramolecular Polymeric Assemblies for Chronopharmacology

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug delivery systems lack precise control over drug amounts in the bloodstream or specific tissues and fail to effectively manage chronopharmacology, which is crucial for treating diseases with specific chronobiologies such as cancers, infectious diseases, and pain.

Innovation Solution

Development of electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, specifically ABA block copolymers with non-electroactive oligoalanine and electroactive oligoaniline blocks, that can be stimulated electrically to release associated agents like drugs, allowing for controlled chronopharmacological delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional drug delivery systems are used, then drugs can be administered to patients, but precise control over drug amounts in the bloodstream or specific tissues is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precision of drug amountsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct functional blocks: electroactive polymer blocks (B) that respond to electrical stimuli and non-electroactive polymer blocks (A) that provide structural support. This segmentation allows the electroactive components to handle the control function while the non-electroactive components maintain structural integrity, achieving precise drug control without requiring the entire system to be complex

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electroactive polymer blocks act as intermediaries between the electrical stimulus and the drug release process. These blocks undergo conformational changes or solubility modifications in response to electrical signals, which then trigger controlled drug release, providing a mechanism for precise control without direct mechanical intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional drug delivery systems are used, then drugs can be delivered to patients, but effective management of chronopharmacology is failed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechronopharmacology management capabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer assembly incorporates electroactive blocks that can dynamically change their properties in response to electrical stimuli. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt drug release patterns to match chronopharmacological requirements, allowing the material to transition between different functional states as needed for time-dependent drug delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes changes in electrical parameters (voltage, frequency, duration) to control drug release timing and amount. By modifying these parameters, the system can achieve different chronopharmacological effects, enabling versatile time-dependent drug delivery through simple parameter adjustment rather than complex operational procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If electroactive ABA block copolymers are used for controlled drug release, then precise and controlled release of drugs at specific times and locations is enabled, but the system requires electrical stimuli activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug release precisionVSAvoidelectroactive polymer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ABA block copolymer structure assigns different functional qualities to different parts: the electroactive B blocks are localized to provide stimulus-responsive functionality, while the non-electroactive A blocks are localized to provide structural framework and drug loading capacity. This local differentiation achieves precise drug release control without requiring the entire polymer structure to be complex

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables precise and controlled release of drugs at specific times and locations, enhancing treatment efficacy for conditions with specific chronobiologies by utilizing electrical stimuli to activate drug release from electroactive polymeric assemblies.

Implementation Method 1

B is an electroactive polymer... B is an electroactive oligoaniline... providing an electrical stimulus to the electroactive supramolecular polymeric assembly, wherein the electrical stimulus causes the electroactive supramolecular polymeric assembly to release the agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentUS11007278B2Electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, methods of making electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, and methods of using electroactive supramolecular assemblies

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 UNIV OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, methods of making electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, methods of using electroactive supramolecular polymeric assemblies, and the like.