Mesoporous Sponge Spicules for 72-Hour Microchannel Drug Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microneedle technologies face challenges such as short micropore maintenance time, limited administration area, difficulty in applying to uneven surfaces, and inefficiency in delivering drugs with higher molecular weights through the skin.

Innovation Solution

A mesoporous sponge spicule is synthesized by modifying the surface of sponge spicules with mesoporous materials like silica, allowing for prolonged skin penetration and simultaneous delivery of multiple drugs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If solid microneedles are used to create micropores in the skin, then skin penetration is achieved, but the micropores close automatically within 20 minutes limiting drug transdermal penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicropore maintenance timeVSAvoiddrug transdermal penetration efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mesoporous sponge spicule is pre-loaded with drugs before application to the skin. This preliminary loading ensures that the drug is already positioned within the spicule structure, ready for immediate release upon skin penetration, eliminating the need for subsequent drug application steps and ensuring sustained delivery throughout the extended micropore maintenance period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses mesoporous sponge spicules with controlled pore structures (2-50 nm pore size) that provide sustained drug release capability. The porous structure maintains open channels in the skin for extended periods (at least 72 hours), preventing the automatic closure that occurs with solid microneedles and enabling continuous drug transdermal penetration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If microneedle patches with fixed array arrangement are used, then standardized application is achieved, but difficulty in applying to different surfaces and uneven areas such as the alar of the nose

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to different skin surfacesVSAvoidapplication convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mesoporous sponge spicules are designed with flexible application methods that allow adaptation to dynamic and uneven skin surfaces. Unlike rigid array microneedle patches, the spicules can be applied topically and conform to various skin contours including the alar of the nose, providing both versatility and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If sponge spicule is used to pretreat skin to open channels, then skin penetration is enhanced, but the entire administration procedure has to be divided into two steps which is not convenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug delivery efficiencyVSAvoidadministration procedure steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the skin channel-opening function and the drug delivery function into a single integrated mesoporous sponge spicule. The spicule simultaneously creates micropores in the skin and delivers the loaded drug through these channels in one step, eliminating the need for separate pretreatment and drug application steps while maintaining high drug delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If drugs are left on skin surface for gradual absorption through microchannel, then drug delivery is achieved, but some drugs will be degraded or inactivated during prolonged exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug absorption efficiencyVSAvoiddrug stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drug is pre-loaded into the mesoporous sponge spicule structure before application to the skin. This preliminary encapsulation protects the drug from degradation during storage and transport, and ensures immediate release upon skin penetration, eliminating the prolonged surface exposure that causes drug degradation and inactivation

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

The mesoporous sponge spicule maintains microchannels for at least 72 hours, enables one-step drug administration on any skin area, enhances drug solubility and stability, and effectively delivers drugs across the skin barrier.

Implementation Method 1

a mesoporous material is synthesized on a surface of a sponge spicule to define the mesoporous sponge spicule

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The mesoporous sponge spicule maintains microchannels for at least 72 hours, enables one-step drug administration on any skin area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS12440439B2Mesoporous sponge spicule and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 XIAMEN UNIV

AI summary

A mesoporous sponge spicule, a mesoporous material is synthesized on a surface of a sponge spicule to define the mesoporous sponge spicule.