Light-Absorbing Nanoparticle Delivery for Targeted Follicle Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for follicular skin diseases like acne vulgaris often result in limited injury and incomplete resolution due to limited delivery of light-absorbing particles, leading to potential side effects and collateral damage.

Innovation Solution

Topical application of sub-micron particles with a light-absorbing material, facilitated by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, or microjets, followed by energy activation to enhance delivery and therapeutic effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If light-absorbing particles are delivered into sebaceous follicles, then therapeutic effect is improved, but delivery limitation causes incomplete treatment and may require multiple treatments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidparticle delivery amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, or ultrasound treatment before energy activation to enhance particle delivery into the sebaceous follicles. This preliminary mechanical action prepares the tissue and facilitates deeper particle penetration, ensuring sufficient particle quantity is delivered before the therapeutic energy is applied, thereby improving treatment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, or ultrasound as intermediary mechanisms to facilitate particle delivery. These intermediary actions mediate between the external application and the internal follicular structures, enabling effective particle transport into the target site without directly damaging the tissue, thus resolving the contradiction between delivery quantity and treatment efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high energy is used to achieve complete injury in one treatment, then treatment efficacy is improved, but collateral damage and side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidcollateral damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using light-absorbing particles that are selectively delivered into and retained within the sebaceous follicles. When energy is applied, only the particles within the target follicles absorb the energy and generate heat, creating localized thermal damage precisely where needed. This selective localization ensures high treatment efficacy while minimizing collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct high-energy mechanical or thermal damage with a two-step process: first, mechanical/ag acoustic/ultrasonic delivery of particles; second, optical energy activation. This substitution allows for controlled, localized energy deposition only where particles are present, achieving complete follicular injury without the uncontrolled collateral damage that would result from direct high-energy application to the entire treatment area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple treatments are administered, then treatment efficacy is improved, but treatment time and patient burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidtreatment interval

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By applying preliminary mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, or ultrasound to enhance particle delivery, the patent ensures that sufficient particles are delivered in a single treatment session. This preliminary enhancement of particle uptake allows one treatment to achieve the particle saturation needed for complete follicular injury, eliminating the need for multiple treatment sessions and reducing the time loss associated with treatment intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enhances treatment efficacy by improving the appearance of enlarged pores, reducing oily skin, and permanently removing hair or eccrine glands, while minimizing side effects through targeted thermal damage.

Implementation Method 1

The mechanism of one type of treatment described herein is through delivery of light absorbing particles in to the sebaceous follicles selectively followed by pulsed laser irradiation that causes selective heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

facilitating delivery of the material into a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, sebaceous gland duct, or infundibulum of the skin by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic cavitation: Acoustic Cavitation

Data Source

PatentUS12377284B2Treatment intervals for use of compositions comprising energy absorbing materials for dermatological applications

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 CORONADO AESTHETICS LLC

AI summary

The present invention provides compositions comprising energy (e.g., light) absorbing submicron particles (e.g., nanoparticles comprising a silica core and a gold shell) and methods for delivering such particles via topical application. This delivery is facilitated by application of mechanical agitation (e.g. massage), acoustic vibration in the range of 10 Hz-20 kHz, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, and microjets. The method of treatment is performed and then, depending upon the desired clinical outcome, repeated after a treatment response interval has elapsed.