Nanohydrogel Preparation via Thermal Self-Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing and sterilizing nanohydrogels are plagued by issues such as high costs, polydispersion, heat production, toxicity from organic solvents, and mechanical destruction during filtration, which affect their pharmaceutical applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the dispersion of functionalized polysaccharides in an aqueous solution followed by heating at controlled temperatures (70°C to 150°C) and pressures (1 to 5 bar) to form self-assembled nanohydrogels, which can encapsulate or adsorb active compounds, ensuring sterility and dimensional homogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filtration is used for sterilization, then sterility is achieved, but mechanical destruction of nanoparticles occurs and bio-active molecules are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system with a thermal sterilization system. Instead of using physical filters that mechanically trap and destroy nanoparticles, the invention uses heat treatment at controlled temperatures (60-80°C for 15-30 minutes) to achieve sterilization through thermal denaturation of microorganisms while preserving the integrity of the nanohydrogel particles and their encapsulated bio-active molecules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the temperature and time parameters of the sterilization process. By controlling the temperature within 60-80°C and duration within 15-30 minutes, the method achieves effective sterilization while preventing thermal degradation of the nanohydrogels and their cargo. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving sterility and preserving nanoparticle integrity.
2Reliability
If gamma irradiation or electron flow is used for sterilization, then sterility is achieved, but structure of bio-active molecules is altered and polymers are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-energy radiation sterilization methods with a thermal sterilization method. Instead of using gamma rays or electron beams that can penetrate and damage molecular structures, the invention uses controlled heat treatment that selectively denatures microorganisms while leaving the nanohydrogel matrix and encapsulated molecules intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise temperature (60-80°C) and time (15-30 minutes) parameters that are sufficient for microbial sterilization but below the threshold for degrading polymer structures or altering bio-active molecule conformations. This parameter control enables effective sterilization without compromising molecular stability.
3Volume of moving object
If sonication is used for nanohydrogel preparation, then small dimension nanohydrogels are formed, but high polydispersion and heat production occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasonic mechanical energy input with thermal energy input for nanohydrogel formation. Instead of using sonication to cavitate and fragment polymers into nanoparticles, the invention uses controlled heating to induce self-assembly of amphiphilic polysaccharides into monodisperse nanohydrogels, eliminating the polydispersion problem inherent in sonication methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temperature as the controlling parameter for nanohydrogel formation rather than ultrasonic power. By heating the aqueous solution of functionalized polysaccharides to 60-80°C, the method triggers controlled self-assembly into uniform nanoparticles with narrow size distribution, avoiding the high polydispersion generated by mechanical sonication.
4Ease of manufacture
If organic solvents are used for nanohydrogel preparation, then nanohydrogels are formed, but toxicity and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent system from organic to aqueous. By using water as the solvent instead of organic solvents like chloroform or dichloromethane, the method eliminates toxicity and safety hazards while maintaining effective nanohydrogel formation through thermal self-assembly of amphiphilic polysaccharides in the aqueous environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a safe, non-toxic environment by using water as the reaction medium. This eliminates the need for hazardous organic solvents and their associated safety concerns (fire hazards, toxic exposure) while providing an biocompatible environment for nanohydrogel formation and subsequent pharmaceutical applications.
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 enables the simple and cost-effective production of sterile, dimensionally homogeneous nanohydrogels that can encapsulate drugs without degrading them, maintaining stability and allowing for lyophilization for convenient storage and reconstitution.
Implementation Method 1
heating at controlled temperatures (70°C to 150°C) and pressures (1 to 5 bar) to form self-assembled nanohydrogels
Implementation Method 2
heating at controlled temperatures (70°C to 150°C) and pressures (1 to 5 bar) to form self-assembled nanohydrogels
Implementation Method 3
heating at controlled temperatures (70°C to 150°C) and pressures (1 to 5 bar)
Implementation Method 4
encapsulate or adsorb active compounds
Implementation Method 5
encapsulate or adsorb active compounds
Implementation Method 6
allowing for lyophilization for convenient storage and reconstitution
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing nanohydrogels comprising a dispersion step, in which a polysaccharide functionalized with hydrophobic molecules and in the form of a macromolecular agglomerate is dispersed in an aqueous solution, and a heating step, in which the aqueous dispersion of the polysaccharide is subjected to a temperature of between 70 °C and 150 °C and a pressure of between 1 bar and 5 bar. In the heating step, the conditions of temperature and pressure must be such that boiling of the aqueous dispersion of the polysaccharide does not take place.