Ionic Liquid Drug Delivery via Parameter Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for delivering active compounds using solvents often result in toxic side effects and irritations, limiting their effectiveness for in vivo use due to solvent toxicity and irritant properties.

Innovation Solution

The use of ionic liquids with a hydrophobic anion having a pKa of at least 4.0 and a Log P of at least 1.0, paired with a quaternary ammonium cation, for enhanced drug delivery, reducing weight/weight gain, treating obesity, diabetes, ulcers, cancer, or fibrosis by improving compound uptake kinetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional solvents are used for delivering active compounds, then compound uptake is improved, but toxic side effects and irritancy occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompound uptakeVSAvoidtoxicity and irritancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the delivery medium by using ionic liquids with specific properties (pKa ≥ 4.0, Log P ≥ 1.0) instead of conventional solvents. This parameter change allows achieving compound uptake improvement while avoiding the toxicity and irritancy associated with traditional solvents like DMSO and ethanol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite ionic liquid formulations combining specific cations and anions with defined chemical properties. These composite materials provide both the solubility enhancement needed for compound uptake and the biocompatibility required to eliminate toxic side effects and irritancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ionic liquids with specific pKa and Log P values are used, then toxicity and irritancy are reduced, but compound uptake kinetics must be enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoxicity and irritancyVSAvoidcompound uptake kinetics

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the ionic liquid parameters (pKa ≥ 4.0, Log P ≥ 1.0) to simultaneously achieve reduced toxicity/irritancy and enhanced compound uptake kinetics. The specific parameter ranges are selected to balance biocompatibility with delivery effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter 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 described ionic liquid compositions demonstrate superior active compound uptake kinetics, reducing toxicity and irritancy, enabling effective transdermal and other administration routes for treating various conditions without the drawbacks of traditional solvents.

Implementation Method 1

The uptake of many active compounds, e.g., pharmaceutically active compounds, can be improved by delivering the compounds in solvents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS20220257767A1Ionic liquids for drug delivery

Publication Date: 2022.08.18 PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE

AI summary

The technology described herein is directed to ionic liquids and methods of drug delivery.