Needleless Injector Plasma Combustion Selective Antibody Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needleless injectors lack the ability to selectively induce favorable immune responses while avoiding the production of unfavorable antibodies, which is crucial for applications like genetic vaccines and gene therapy.

Innovation Solution

A needleless injector design that utilizes an igniter powder to generate plasma and pressure for DNA solution discharge, with a combustion product that condenses quickly to normal temperature, allowing for precise immune response induction by controlling the discharge energy and timing, thereby selectively producing desired antibodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needleless injector is used to introduce DNA into the living body, then the immune response is enhanced compared to needle-equipped injectors, but unfavorable antibodies are produced along with favorable antibodies, reducing the selectivity of immune response induction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response inductionVSAvoidunfavorable antibody production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the discharge pressure and temperature parameters of the DNA solution. The discharge pressure is controlled to range from 100 to 500 atm, and the temperature is maintained between 20°C to 40°C. By optimizing these parameters, the injection achieves selective immune response induction while minimizing unfavorable antibody production, thus resolving the contradiction between enhancing immune response and avoiding harmful side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high pressure is applied to discharge the DNA solution quickly, then the injection efficiency is improved, but the DNA solution may be damaged or the injection precision is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection speedVSAvoidinjection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a dynamic pressure control mechanism that adjusts the discharge pressure in real-time. The pressure is initially high to achieve rapid DNA solution discharge, then gradually reduced to maintain injection precision. This dynamic pressure adjustment allows the system to achieve both high injection efficiency and precise control, resolving the contradiction between injection speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the discharge force is increased to enhance DNA delivery, then the gene therapy effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage or unwanted immune responses may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegene therapy effectivenessVSAvoidtissue damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the DNA solution to a temperature of 20°C to 40°C before injection and pre-controlling the pressure parameters. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the high-pressure discharge occurs, the DNA solution is delivered effectively without causing tissue damage or unwanted immune responses. The pre-conditioning of the DNA solution parameters resolves the contradiction between enhancing gene therapy effectiveness and avoiding harmful side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 injector effectively induces immune responses by selectively producing favorable antibodies, such as IgG2, while minimizing the production of unfavorable antibodies like IgG1, as demonstrated by antibody titer measurements and tumor growth suppression in animal models.

Implementation Method 1

an igniter powder which exhibits such a pressure characteristic that a plasma is generated during combustion immediately after ignition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

a plasma is generated during combustion immediately after ignition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma generation: Plasma

Implementation Method 3

a generated pressure is lowered when a temperature becomes ordinary temperature and a combustion product is condensed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP3311866B1Needleless syringe and method for introducing DNA into injection target area using same
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 DAICEL CORP
  • EP3311866B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3311866B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3311866B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A needleless injector which can selectively induce the immune response and a method for introducing DNA including a region coding for an antigen to selectively produce an antibody in a living body of a mammal by using the needleless injector are provided. Disclosed is a needleless injector for injecting a DNA solution into an injection target area without using any injection needle; the needleless injector comprising an accommodating unit which accommodates the DNA solution; a predetermined ignition device; and a nozzle unit having a discharge port through which the DNA solution pressurized by the combustion of the predetermined igniter powder in the ignition device flows so that the DNA solution is discharged to the injection target area; wherein a temperature of the predetermined combustion product, which is provided during the pressurization, changes to a neighborhood of ordinary temperature within 20 msec after a pressure, which is applied to the DNA solution on account of the combustion of the igniter powder, reaches an initial peak discharge force during a pressurization process for discharging the DNA solution.