Loadable Porous Structures for Continuous Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for long-term drug administration are inconvenient, particularly for patients with impaired cognitive function, as they require frequent dosing and can lead to unstable blood concentrations and practical challenges such as needing trained personnel for administration.
Innovation Solution
Development of loadable porous structures made from a biocompatible matrix material and porogen, where the porogen is removed to create pores, allowing for the loading and release of pharmaceutical substances over an extended period, providing a stable and continuous drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent oral or intravenous drug administration is used, then drug delivery can be achieved, but compliance becomes difficult and blood concentrations become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drug delivery function from the patient's daily routine by implanting a device that autonomously releases pharmaceutical substances. The implantable device takes out the need for frequent patient intervention, ensuring compliance independent of the patient's cognitive function or memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device performs self-service by automatically delivering drugs at controlled rates without requiring patient action. The device encapsulates the compound in a polymeric matrix that continuously releases the drug in vivo, eliminating the need for patient compliance while maintaining stable blood levels.
2Reliability
If frequent drug administration is used, then adequate drug levels can be maintained, but blood concentrations peak quickly then drop steeply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action through an implantable device that provides continuous release of pharmaceutical substances over extended periods. The polymeric matrix encapsulation ensures steady-state release kinetics, eliminating the peak-and-drop pattern associated with frequent bolus administrations and maintaining stable blood concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delivery parameter from intermittent bolus dosing to continuous controlled release. By using a polymeric matrix with specific degradation or diffusion properties, the system transforms the release kinetics to achieve steady blood levels, fundamentally altering the time-concentration profile from discontinuous to continuous.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If implantable devices with polymeric matrix encapsulation are used, then continuous drug release can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the pharmaceutical substance with a polymeric matrix to create an implantable device. This composite structure provides both the drug delivery function and the structural integrity needed for implantation, achieving extended duration of action while managing device complexity through material integration rather than mechanical complexity.
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 solution enables stable and continuous drug delivery, reducing the need for frequent administration, maintaining consistent blood levels, and simplifying compliance, while being suitable for temperature-sensitive drugs and easy to implant, thus addressing the challenges of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
removing the porogen from the extrudate to form the loadable porous structure
Implementation Method 2
removing the porogen from the extrudate to form the loadable porous structure
Implementation Method 3
release of pharmaceutical substances over long periods of time
Data Source
AI summary
Loadable porous structures are disclosed, which are structures with pre-formed pores. The loadable porous structures can be loaded with pharmaceutical substances and optional excipients. The loaded porous structures can then be used as implants, for implantation into a patient for release of pharmaceutical substances over long periods of time. Methods of making and using such structures and implants are also disclosed.