Graphene Acupoint Herbal Patch for Dysmenorrhea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patches lack effective solutions for treating dysmenorrhea, particularly in terms of analgesic and uterine warming properties, and there is a need for improved adhesion and drug release mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A graphene acupoint herbal patch (AHP) incorporating TCM herbs, graphene, hot melt adhesive, far-infrared ceramic powder, heat sensitizer, camphor, and menthol, which enhances adhesion, drug release, and therapeutic efficacy for dysmenorrhea treatment by providing analgesia, reducing uterine contraction, and inhibiting inflammation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If graphene is added to the AHP formulation, then adhesion strength and peeling resistance are significantly improved, but the complexity of the preparation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines graphene with traditional Chinese medicine herbs and hot melt adhesive to create a composite herbal patch formulation. This composite material approach enhances the adhesion strength and peeling resistance of the patch while maintaining its medicinal properties, directly resolving the contradiction between improved strength and increased complexity.
2Productivity
If graphene is incorporated into the AHP, then drug release rate is significantly increased, but the manufacturing precision requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the unique properties of graphene to change the drug release parameters of the herbal patch. Graphene's high surface area and porous structure enable enhanced drug loading and release rates. The patent addresses the manufacturing precision challenge by optimizing the mixing process parameters and graphene dosage to achieve uniform distribution without requiring excessively tight tolerances.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional TCM patches are used without graphene, then the formulation is simpler, but adhesion time and skin irritation resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces graphene as an intermediary material that mediates between the TCM herbs and the skin. Graphene enhances the adhesion of the patch to the skin surface and acts as a carrier to improve drug penetration, thereby extending the duration of action without requiring overly complex formulation 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 graphene AHP demonstrates improved adhesion and drug release, offering significant analgesic effects, reducing prostaglandin secretion, and effectively treating dysmenorrhea symptoms, including qi stagnation, cold coagulation, and adolescent primary dysmenorrhea, with reduced skin toxicity and irritation.
Implementation Method 1
graphene materials, with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity properties
Implementation Method 2
far-infrared ceramic powder
Implementation Method 3
heat sensitizer
Data Source
AI summary
A graphene acupoint herbal patch (AHP) for warming uterus and relieving pain, and a method of preparation and use thereof are provided, belonging to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). The graphene AHP for warming uterus and relieving pain includes a TCM, graphene, a hot melt adhesive, a far-infrared ceramic powder, a heat sensitizer, camphor, and menthol. The graphene AHP for warming uterus and relieving pain produces no acute toxicity, has no skin irritation, and does not induce allergies. In the graphene AHP for warming uterus and relieving pain, the release rate of the small drug molecules tetrahydropalmatine, imperatorin, eugenol, and paeoniflorin is higher than that of an ordinary AHP for warming uterus and relieving pain, thus exhibiting a more obvious analgesic effect.