Nanocapsule Ocular Therapy via Laser-Triggered Phase Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ocular disease treatments, such as injections into the eye, can be uncomfortable for patients and lack effective methods for ocular-specific drug delivery, leading to vision impairment or loss in conditions like diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, and central serous chorioretinopathy.
Innovation Solution
The use of nanocapsules encapsulating therapeutic substances and a colorant, with a temperature-sensitive hydrogel shell, that are introduced into the body and activated by pulsed laser radiation to release the therapeutic substance specifically at the choroidal neovessels of the eye, providing targeted treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If injection into the eye is used for ocular disease treatment, then therapeutic substance delivery is achieved, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces nanocapsules as an intermediary carrier that transports therapeutic substances through the bloodstream to the choroidal neovessels. This mediator approach eliminates direct eye injection while achieving targeted drug delivery to the retinal pigment epithelium layer, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable therapeutic delivery and patient comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical injection method with a photothermal activation system. Instead of mechanically injecting drugs into the eye, the system uses laser irradiation to trigger phase transition of the nanocapsule shell, releasing the therapeutic substance non-invasively and eliminating injection-related discomfort
2Adaptability or versatility
If systemic drug delivery is used, then treatment coverage is improved, but targeting precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nanocapsule shell is designed with localized temperature-sensitive properties that respond specifically to laser irradiation at the treatment site. This local quality enhancement allows the therapeutic substance to be released only at the targeted choroidal neovessels, maintaining high targeting precision while achieving systemic circulation and broad treatment coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the temperature-sensitive hydrogel shell as a switching mechanism. The shell transitions from a gel state at body temperature to a sol state under laser heating, enabling controlled release of the therapeutic substance. This phase transition mechanism ensures precise spatial and temporal control of drug delivery, resolving the contradiction between treatment coverage and targeting precision
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 method allows for the targeted release of therapeutic substances within the eye, reducing discomfort and improving treatment efficacy for ocular diseases by ensuring precise delivery and minimizing systemic side effects.
Implementation Method 1
heating the portion of the nanocapsules present in the eye such that at least a portion of the nanocapsules transition phase and release the therapeutic substance
Implementation Method 2
The shell may be constructed of a temperature-sensitive hydrogel. The temperature-sensitive hydrogel may have a critical solution temperature (CST) below which the shell prevents biological interaction and above which the shell becomes hydrophobic
Implementation Method 3
emitting a pulsed laser radiation through a pupil of the eye. After a portion of the nanocapsules enters choroidal neovessels of an eye of the patient, the method may include heating the portion of the nanocapsules present in the eye such that at least a portion of the nanocapsules transition phase
Implementation Method 4
heating the portion of the nanocapsules present in the eye such that at least a portion of the nanocapsules transition phase
Implementation Method 5
The colorant may imitate a color of a retinal colorant epithelial (RPE) cell. the colorant has a different optical absorption range from retinal cells of the eye. Accordingly, the method further includes absorbing a first portion of the therapeutic radiation by the nanocapsules and absorbing a second portion of the therapeutic radiation by a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell
Data Source
AI summary
A method of macular disease treatment (500) may include introducing nanocapsules into a body of a patient (502). The nanocapsules may be introduced such that the nanocapsules circulate through at least a portion of a body of the patient. A therapeutic substance and a colorant may be encapsulated into the nanocapsules. After a portion of the nanocapsules enters choroidal neovessels of an eye of the patient, the method may include emitting a pulsed laser radiation through a pupil of the eye (504). Additionally, after a portion of the nanocapsules enters choroidal neovessels of an eye of the patient, the method may include heating the portion of the nanocapsules present in the eye (506) such that at least a portion of the nanocapsules transfer phase and release the therapeutic substance.