Biocompatible Microdroplet Emulsion for Atherosclerosis Plaque Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for atherosclerosis, particularly in small arteries, are inadequate as they cannot effectively reverse the buildup of cholesterol and plaque, leading to heart disease, stroke, and other conditions like cerebral small vessel disease and coronary microvascular disease, which are not treatable with angioplasty due to the small size and large number of affected arteries.
Innovation Solution
A pharmacologically acceptable microdroplet emulsion is administered intravenously, selectively targeting and dissolving atherosclerotic plaque by matching solubility parameters with cholesterol and binding preferentially to cholesterol esters or fatty materials in arterial plaque, allowing for gradual reduction of atherosclerosis and reduction of heart disease and stroke risk, using biocompatible compounds that can be safely metabolized, and a medical device to generate microdroplets for targeted delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional treatments are used for atherosclerosis, then some arterial plaque can be managed, but small arteries cannot be effectively treated due to the small size and large number of affected arteries
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment approach segments the arterial system into accessible and previously inaccessible regions. By using intravenous administration, the microdroplets can reach small arteries that were previously unreachable by conventional catheter-based interventions, effectively segmenting the treatment capability across the entire vascular tree.
Solution Approach 2:
Biocompatible microdroplets serve as an intermediary carrier that can traverse the entire circulatory system including small arteries. These microdroplets mediate the delivery of cholesterol-dissolving agents to plaque deposits in vessels too small for mechanical intervention, bridging the gap between systemic delivery and localized plaque dissolution.
2Quantity of substance
If cholesterol is transported through the bloodstream, then it reaches arterial plaque, but its low solubility in water limits its concentration and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of cholesterol delivery by transitioning from dissolved cholesterol to emulsified microdroplets. This parameter change allows cholesterol to be administered at much higher concentrations while maintaining stability in the aqueous bloodstream environment through emulsion formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment uses a composite approach combining cholesterol with biocompatible emulsifiers to create stable microdroplets. This composite structure allows the hydrophobic cholesterol to be suspended in the hydrophilic bloodstream at high concentrations without precipitation, effectively resolving the solubility-concentration trade-off.
3Manufacturing precision
If angioplasty is performed on large arteries, then significant plaque can be removed, but it cannot be applied to small arteries due to size constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The microdroplet-based treatment provides a universal solution that can be applied across the entire arterial spectrum from large to small vessels. A single intravenous administration delivers therapeutic agents to plaque deposits regardless of vessel size, making the treatment universally applicable where conventional angioplasty is limited to larger arteries only.
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 microdroplet emulsion effectively reduces atherosclerotic plaque buildup, offering a systemic treatment that can address atherosclerosis in all blood vessels, including small arteries, with minimal side effects, and provides a method to treat conditions like cerebral small vessel disease and coronary microvascular disease, which are challenging to treat with existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
selectively targeting and dissolving atherosclerotic plaque by matching solubility parameters with cholesterol and binding preferentially to cholesterol esters or fatty materials in arterial plaque
Implementation Method 2
A pharmacologically acceptable microdroplet emulsion is administered intravenously
Data Source
AI summary
A pharmacologically acceptable emulsion of biocompatible solvent microdroplets is provided for treating atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Intravenous administration of the biocompatible solvent microdroplets enables the microdroplets to bind and dissolve free cholesterol, cholesterol esters or other fatty compounds within the plaque. A high level of selectivity is ensured from energy principals, by designing the microdroplets to have a low interfacial surface energy when binding to free cholesterol or cholesterol esters in arterial plaque and a high interfacial surface energy when coming into contact with blood cells or endothelial cells along the walls of blood vessels. A review of many compounds which may form the basis of the biocompatible solvent from which the microdroplets are fabricated, as well as their solubility parameters are provided. Furthermore, a specially designed catheter with a micromachined tip is also provided to allow the microdroplets to be generated directly within a blood vessel, as an alternative to emulsification.