Nail Treatment Composition with Low Surface Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current topical treatments for nail disorders such as onychomycosis face challenges in achieving effective drug penetration through the thick and hard nail plate, leading to low efficacy and the need for systemic medications or invasive nail removal.
Innovation Solution
A pharmaceutical composition with a volatile vehicle, a non-volatile solvent, and a wetting agent having a surface tension of 40 dynes/cm or less, which spreads and wicks into the nail folds and gap between the nail and nail bed without forming a solid film, enhancing the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to the nail bed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If topical treatments are applied to the nail, then the treatment is non-invasive and easier to administer, but the thick and hard nail plate prevents effective drug penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the topical formulation, specifically using a volatile vehicle that evaporates to allow deep penetration through the nail plate, combined with a non-volatile solvent that remains to deliver the active ingredient to the nail bed, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of topical application and effective drug penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a two-component solvent system as an intermediary mechanism: the volatile vehicle acts as a penetration enhancer that temporarily modifies the nail plate structure, while the non-volatile solvent serves as a carrier that delivers the active pharmaceutical ingredient to the target site, thus mediating between the topical application and deep nail bed delivery
2Ease of operation
If existing topical formulations are used, then they can be applied easily, but they form a solid film that hinders drug delivery to the nail bed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the formulation parameters by selecting a volatile vehicle with high evaporation rate that prevents solid film formation, allowing the active ingredient to remain in solution and penetrate through the nail plate effectively, thus resolving the contradiction between easy application and sufficient drug delivery
3Reliability
If the nail plate is removed to improve drug access, then drug delivery to the nail bed is enhanced, but the treatment becomes invasive and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the topical formulation to self-penetrate through the intact nail plate via the volatile vehicle's evaporation mechanism, eliminating the need for invasive nail removal procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between effective drug delivery and treatment simplicity
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 composition significantly increases the penetration of antifungal agents into and through the nail, demonstrating higher efficacy in treating onychomycosis compared to existing topical treatments, with improved clinical outcomes and reduced side effects.
Implementation Method 1
a volatile vehicle, the combination of the vehicle and the non-volatile solvent enhances the penetration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient into and through a nail
Implementation Method 2
a non-volatile solvent which has limited water miscibility, having a surface tension of 40 dynes/cm or less, and which composition does not form a solid film when applied to the surface of a nail
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and compositions for treating disorders of the nail and nail bed. Such compositions contain a vehicle in which all components of the composition are dissolved, suspended, dispersed, or emulsified, a non-volatile solvent, a wetting agent, and a pharmaceutically active ingredient that is soluble in the non-volatile solvent and/or a mixture of the vehicle and the non-volatile solvent, which composition has a surface tension of 40 dynes/cm or less and has continuing spreadability, and which composition is effective in treating a disorder of the nail or nail bed.