Nanoencapsulated Oxygen Beverage for Hypoxic Tissue Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for delivering oxygen to hypoxic tumors and muscle tissue are limited by the use of perfluorocarbons, which pose environmental and toxicity risks, and existing oxygen delivery systems are inefficient and require intravenous injection, increasing the risk of infection and limiting consumer applications.

Innovation Solution

A beverage composition comprising water, oxygen bubbles, a surfactant (such as lecithin), a viscosity modifying agent (like glycerol or glycyrrhizic acid), and optionally citric acid, which stabilizes oxygen bubbles for oral administration, allowing for increased absorption and reduced toxicity, thereby enhancing oxygen delivery to tumors and muscle tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If perfluorocarbons are used for oxygen delivery, then oxygen delivery capability is improved, but environmental and toxicity risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen delivery capabilityVSAvoidenvironmental and toxicity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the oxygen delivery system by using nanoencapsulated oxygen with specific size ranges (1-1000 nm) and controlling oxygen partial pressure (at least 30 kPa), replacing perfluorocarbons with water-based formulations containing surfactants and viscosity modifiers to achieve non-toxic, environmentally safe oxygen delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biocompatible, biodegradable materials such as phospholipids, lecithin, and natural viscosity modifiers (glycerol, glycyrrhizic acid) that are safe for oral administration, replacing persistent perfluorocarbons with short-lived, naturally metabolizable components that eliminate environmental and long-term toxicity concerns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If intravenous injection is used for oxygen delivery, then oxygen delivery efficiency is improved, but risk of infection increases and consumer applications are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen delivery efficiencyVSAvoidrisk of infection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the gastrointestinal tract as an intermediary pathway for oxygen delivery, using orally administered beverage formulations that release nanoencapsulated oxygen through digestion, bypassing the need for invasive intravenous injection while maintaining effective oxygen delivery to tissues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical state and delivery parameters by creating stable nanoencapsulated oxygen formulations (1-1000 nm) with controlled oxygen partial pressure (at least 30 kPa) that remain stable in aqueous beverage environments, enabling efficient oxygen release in the gastrointestinal tract without requiring parenteral administration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If microbubble formulations are used, then oxygen suspension is achieved, but stability is insufficient and absorption efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen suspensionVSAvoidstability of oxygen suspension
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments oxygen into numerous nano-sized bubbles (1-1000 nm) rather than larger microbubbles, creating a dispersed suspension where each nanobubble is stabilized by surfactant molecules, increasing total surface area and improving both stability and absorption efficiency in the gastrointestinal tract

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite formulation combining water, nanoencapsulated oxygen, surfactants (phospholipids, lecithin), and viscosity modifiers (glycerol, glycyrrhizic acid), where each component contributes specific properties that collectively enhance oxygen suspension stability and facilitate efficient absorption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition provides a stable and sustained increase in oxygen levels in hypoxic tumors and muscle tissue, reducing the risk of infection and expanding consumer applications by enabling oral administration, with improved absorption efficiency and palatable taste.

Implementation Method 1

a surfactant in an amount of between about 0.1 % (v/v) and about 0.5 % (v/v)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

one or more viscosity modifying agent(s) in an amount of between about 0.5 % (v/v) and about 2.5 % (v/v)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity modification:

Implementation Method 3

improves the efficiency with which oxygen can be absorbed from the digestive tract into the blood stream and surrounding tissue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3324929B1Beverage composition comprising nanoencapsulated oxygen
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LTD
  • EP3324929B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3324929B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3324929B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a beverage composition comprising: water; oxygen bubbles; a surfactant in an amount of between about 0.1 % (v/v) and about 0.5 % (v/v);one or more viscosity modifying agent(s) in an amount of between about 0.5 % (v/v) and about 2.5 % (v/v); and optionally citric acidin an amount ofbetween about 0.1 % (v/v) and about 0.5 % (v/v). The invention further relates to compositions, methods of treatment for cancer, the composition for use in treatment of cancer, and the manufacture of the composition.