Light-Activated Cell Directing Molecule for Bone Site Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell therapy methods for bone diseases face challenges in achieving disease site-selective cell delivery due to the widespread distribution of bone tissue, resulting in insufficient therapeutic effects.

Innovation Solution

Development of compounds comprising a hydrophilic polymer, bile acid, and a hydroxyapatite-directed substance with a photodegradable protective group, which are adsorbed onto cells to direct them to hydroxyapatite-containing tissues in response to light irradiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cells are delivered systemically for bone disease therapy, then cells can reach bone tissue throughout the body, but disease site-selective delivery cannot be achieved resulting in insufficient therapeutic effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoiddisease site selectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The compound is administered to cells in advance before light irradiation, allowing the photoprotective group to remain intact during cell delivery and circulation. Upon reaching the target site, light irradiation triggers deprotection of the hydroxyapatite-directed substance, enabling selective binding to bone tissue. This preliminary action ensures cells are prepared for targeted delivery without premature activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The photoprotective group is temporarily removed from the hydroxyapatite-directed substance through light-induced deprotection at the target site. This extraction of the protective group activates the bone-targeting function only where needed, allowing systemic delivery while achieving local selectivity at the disease site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a photoprotective group is used to mask the hydroxyapatite-directed substance, then cells can be delivered without premature binding, but the compound structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled cell deliveryVSAvoidcompound structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The photoprotective group serves as an intermediary that temporarily masks the hydroxyapatite-directed substance during cell delivery. This mediator prevents premature binding to bone tissue while allowing controlled activation through light irradiation at the target site, achieving reliable controlled delivery despite increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If light irradiation is used to activate the hydroxyapatite-directed substance, then spatial-temporal control of cell delivery is achieved, but the system requires additional activation infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial-temporal controlVSAvoidactivation infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical activation systems with optical activation using light irradiation. Light serves as a non-invasive, precise activation method that provides spatial-temporal control without requiring complex delivery infrastructure, simplifying the overall system while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables controlled, spatial-temporal delivery of functional cells to desired bone sites, enhancing therapeutic efficacy by ensuring cells are directed to specific bone locations at desired timings.

Implementation Method 1

a hydroxyapatite-directed substance having a photodegradable protective group

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotodissociation: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 2

comprising adsorbing the compound according to any one of (1) to (9) on cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4703409A1Light-responsive cell designer molecule
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 OSAKA UNIVERSITY
  • EP4703409A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4703409A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4703409A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present invention provides a compound which is capable of selectively delivering a cell to a disease site such as a bone or a tooth. The compound comprises a hydrophilic polymer or a derivative thereof, a bile acid or a derivative thereof, and a hydroxyapatite-directed substance which has a photolytic protective group. Also provided is a cell which has adsorbed the compound.