Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel Microbubble Drug Delivery for Inner Ear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for inner ear disorders require high systemic drug doses to overcome the blood-labyrinth barrier, leading to inadequate drug concentration in the inner ear and significant side effects due to systemic administration.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery composition comprising temperature-sensitive hydrogel, microbubbles with a protein shell and inert gas core, and a drug, which increases viscosity with temperature to induce cavitation, enhancing cell permeability and allowing for localized, sustained drug release when combined with ultrasound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If systemic administration of high dose drugs is used to overcome the blood-labyrinth barrier, then the drug concentration in the inner ear can be sufficient for therapeutic effect, but side effects occur due to high systemic drug concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microbubbles as an intermediary carrier to transport drugs across the blood-labyrinth barrier. The microbubbles temporarily disrupt the barrier when exposed to ultrasound, allowing high drug concentration to reach the inner ear without requiring high systemic doses, thus avoiding side effects while achieving therapeutic effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the drug delivery system by using temperature-sensitive hydrogel that transitions from liquid at low temperature to gel at body temperature. This parameter change allows the composition to be easily administered as liquid while maintaining sustained release as gel in the target tissue, improving drug concentration delivery without increasing systemic dose
2Quantity of substance
If systemic administration of high dose drugs is used to reach the inner ear, then therapeutic concentration can be achieved, but the complexity of systemic distribution and side effect management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microbubbles serve as a localized delivery vehicle that concentrates drug administration directly at the inner ear site. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex systemic distribution protocols and monitoring, simplifying the treatment process while achieving high local drug concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the drug delivery action specifically at the inner ear through microbubble injection and ultrasound activation. This localized approach avoids the need for complex systemic administration protocols, reducing treatment complexity while maintaining high therapeutic concentration at the target site
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 composition achieves efficient and prolonged drug delivery directly to the inner ear, reducing the need for high systemic doses and minimizing side effects, while maintaining effective drug concentration and prolonged release.
Implementation Method 1
The viscosity for inducing cavitation effect can increase with the increase of temperature, so the drug delivery composition forms a gel state when the temperature increases
Implementation Method 2
the drug delivery composition can produce cavitation effect spontaneously or in combination with ultrasound or other forms of energy. As such, the opening permeability of cells or tissues can be enhanced
Implementation Method 3
The first mixture is treated with an ultrasonic wave for about 100 seconds to 140 seconds to form a plurality of microbubbles
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a drug delivery composition, method of forming the same and method for treating inner ear disorders. The drug delivery composition includes a temperature sensitive hydrogel, a plurality of microbubbles and a drug. Every microbubble has a protein shell and an inert gas core. These microbubbles are dispersed in the temperature sensitive hydrogel. The drug is dispersed in the temperature sensitive hydrogel. Moreover, the drug delivery composition has a viscosity that can induce cavitation effect.