Electrostatic Bonding Polymer Vesicle for Solvent-Free Drug Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymer-based drug delivery systems require complex operations and organic solvents for production, limiting their availability and stability in biological environments.

Innovation Solution

A novel vesicle formed by mixing two block copolymers with specific structures, one containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment, and the other with an opposite charge, which self-assembles in an aqueous solution without the need for organic solvents, providing excellent structure stability and environmental responsiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional polymer-based drug delivery systems are used, then drug delivery function is achieved, but production requires complex operations and organic solvents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer system by using block copolymers with specific hydrophilic and chargeable segments. This parameter change enables the formation of vesicles through simple mixing in aqueous solutions, eliminating the need for complex production operations and organic solvents while maintaining drug delivery functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite block copolymer structures combining hydrophilic segments (for solubility and biocompatibility) and chargeable segments (for electrostatic interactions). This composite material design enables self-assembly into vesicles under simple conditions, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and functional performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional polymer-based drug delivery systems are used, then drug delivery function is achieved, but stability in biological environments is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure stabilityVSAvoidenvironmental responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer system by incorporating chargeable segments that can respond to environmental changes. This enables the vesicles to maintain structural stability while adapting to biological environments through electrostatic interactions, achieving both reliability and environmental responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If vesicles are formed using conventional methods, then vesicle structure is obtained, but organic solvents are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolvent-free productionVSAvoidvesicle structure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic to aqueous by designing block copolymers with hydrophilic segments. This parameter change enables vesicle formation in water without organic solvents while maintaining stable vesicle structures through the balanced design of hydrophilic and chargeable segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophilic segments act as intermediaries that enable the polymer system to interact favorably with aqueous environments. This intermediary function allows vesicle formation and stabilization in water without organic solvents, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and structure stability.

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

The vesicle achieves stable structure maintenance in saline and serum, enables semi-permeability, and can encapsulate a large amount of compounds, making it suitable for drug delivery and biomaterial applications without the need for organic solvents.

Implementation Method 1

a membrane which is formed of a first block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment, and a second block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment having an electric charge which is opposite to that of the chargeable segment in the first block copolymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic bonding: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

a novel vesicle can be easily produced by mixing two block copolymers in an aqueous solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Data Source

PatentEP1878766B1Electrostatic bonding type polymer vesicle
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 THE UNIV OF TOKYO
  • EP1878766B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)
  • EP1878766B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1878766B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention discloses a vesicle which is excellent in structure stability and environmental responsiveness and also can be produced by a simple operation. More particularly, the present invention discloses a vesicle comprising a membrane formed of a first block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment, and a second block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment having an electric charge which is opposite to that of the chargeable segment of the first block copolymer.