Nanoparticle Encapsulation in Microgravity Using Supercritical Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing nanoparticles in a gravity-based environment face limitations in yield, quality, and validation, which hinders the translation of nanoencapsulation technologies into clinical use for treating diseases like cancer, HIV, and Alzheimer's, due to issues with particle size, uniformity, and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Precision manufacturing of nanoparticles using environmentally friendly SuperFluids™ in a microgravity environment, such as the International Space Station, which reduces particle size to picometer dimensions, enhancing their efficiency and delivery capabilities, and employing supercritical, critical, or near-critical fluids for encapsulation without the need for polymer coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If nanoparticles are manufactured in a gravity-based environment using conventional methods, then the manufacturing process is simple and accessible, but the particle size is larger and less uniform, reducing therapeutic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the manufacturing process from a terrestrial gravity-based environment to a microgravity environment in space. This dimensional change in the manufacturing context enables particles to form without gravitational settling, resulting in smaller, more uniform nanoparticles with picometer dimensions that cannot be achieved on Earth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gravitational parameter from standard Earth gravity to microgravity conditions. This fundamental parameter change in the manufacturing environment directly affects particle formation, yielding nanoparticles with superior size uniformity and smaller dimensions while eliminating the need for complex terrestrial manufacturing equipment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If polymer coatings are used to stabilize nanoparticles, then particle stability is improved, but environmental impact increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes polymer coatings from the nanoparticle formulation entirely. By manufacturing particles in a microgravity environment, the nanoparticles achieve inherent stability without requiring external stabilizing agents, thereby eliminating the environmental harm associated with polymer disposal while maintaining composition stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanoparticles manufactured in microgravity exhibit self-stabilizing properties without requiring additional polymer coating layers. The unique formation conditions in space create particles that are inherently stable, eliminating the need for external stabilization mechanisms and their associated environmental costs.
3Productivity
If nanoparticle size is reduced to picometer dimensions, then therapeutic efficiency and surface area to volume ratio are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the manufacturing process to a microgravity environment, the patent achieves picometer-dimensional precision that is unattainable on Earth. The absence of gravitational forces during particle formation naturally produces ultra-fine, highly uniform nanoparticles with exceptional surface area to volume ratios, dramatically improving therapeutic efficiency without requiring complex terrestrial precision control systems.
4Reliability
If conventional manufacturing methods are used on Earth, then production costs are lower, but yield and quality are limited, hindering clinical translation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the gravitational parameter from Earth gravity to microgravity, which fundamentally improves nanoparticle quality and yield characteristics. This parameter change produces particles with superior uniformity and smaller dimensions that are ready for clinical translation, overcoming the quality limitations of conventional terrestrial methods despite the increased manufacturing 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
This approach results in smaller, more uniform nanoparticles with increased surface area and improved therapeutic index, reducing side effects and costs, and enabling more effective treatment of orphan and chronic diseases by enhancing drug delivery and bioavailability.
Implementation Method 1
The methods feature SuperFluidsTM which are supercritical, critical and near-critical fluids with and without polar cosolvents
Implementation Method 2
precision manufacturing targeted nanoencapsulated drugs in a low gravity or microgravity environment utilizing green, environment friendly SuperFluidsTM
Implementation Method 3
Microgravity, microgravity environment, or microgravity conditions are defined as a very low gravity force of less than 1×10−3×g
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for producing targeted nanoencapsulated therapeutics in a microgravity environment using supercritical, critical and near-critical fluids with and without polar cosolvents. Using the disclosed technology, nanosomes for delivering Bryostatin-1 and other Bryoids are produced in microgravity. The resulting nanosomes are smaller, more uniform, with a higher surface area to volume than those produced in gravity-based environments and have an average diameter between 0.001 to 20.000 nanometer. The resultant therapeutics may be used for treating chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, and Alzheimer's disease.