Hollow Glucan Particles for Thymol Encapsulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Terpenes, despite their antimicrobial and antitumor properties, face challenges due to their liquid form, instability in aqueous emulsions, and difficulty in long-term storage, as well as limitations in current delivery systems such as spray coating and molecular encapsulation.

Innovation Solution

Encapsulating terpenes, specifically thymol, within hollow glucan particles or cell wall particles, which provides stability, controlled release, and improved handling characteristics, utilizing the particles' porous structure to absorb and retain the terpene component effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If terpenes are used in aqueous emulsion form, then they can be applied in medical, veterinary and agricultural fields, but their stability and shelf life are significantly reduced due to oxidation and decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication versatilityVSAvoidterpene stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent encapsulates terpenes within hollow glucan particles, creating a nested structure where the hydrophobic terpene is protected inside the hydrophilic glucan shell. This allows the composition to maintain stability in aqueous environments while preserving terpene activity, resolving the contradiction between application versatility and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow glucan particles act as flexible protective shells that encapsulate the terpene component. These shells provide a barrier against oxidation and decomposition while allowing controlled release of the terpene, thereby maintaining both stability and biological activity in aqueous formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If terpenes are formulated as oil-in-water emulsions, then they can be delivered effectively, but they require stabilizers and have limited long-term storage capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery effectivenessVSAvoidstorage duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow glucan particles possess a porous structure that allows the terpene to be absorbed and retained within the particle matrix. This porous encapsulation provides stable delivery of the terpene while protecting it from degradation, enabling long-term storage without requiring additional stabilizers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If terpenes are used in pure liquid form, then they maintain maximum biological activity, but they are difficult to handle and apply in controlled manners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiological activityVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system combining hydrophobic terpene with hydrophilic hollow glucan particles. This composite approach allows the terpene to maintain its biological activity while the glucan carrier provides easy handling properties, enabling controlled application in various formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 encapsulation enhances terpene stability, payload, and release kinetics, making them more effective against infective agents, easier to handle, and suitable for various applications in medical, veterinary, and agricultural fields.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing the particles' porous structure to absorb and retain the terpene component effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing the particles' porous structure to absorb and retain the terpene component effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP2982244B1Insecticidal capsules containing thymol and methods of making and using them

Publication Date: 2020.11.18 EDEN RESEARCH PLC

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AI summary

There is described a method of killing an insect or arachnid, said method comprising the step of administering to said insect or arachnid in an effective dose a composition comprising a hollow glucan particle or cell wall particle encapsulating a terpene component.