NIR Absorbing Composite Resin Particles for Scalable Phototherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biocompatible organic NIR absorbers like indocyanine green are not compatible with industrial solvent evaporation technologies, limiting their integration into biocompatible nanoparticles for opto-medical applications due to solubility issues and degradation in water, necessitating encapsulation and complex synthesis protocols.
Innovation Solution
Development of composite resin particles incorporating non-ionic NIR absorbers integrated with biocompatible polymers using industrial scalable methods, such as solvent evaporation, without the need for full encapsulation, allowing for high solubility and tunable laser response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indocyanine green is used as NIR absorber, then high molar extinction coefficient is achieved, but solubility in organic solvents is poor and water solubility causes degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of indocyanine green by introducing non-ionic surfactant moieties (such as polyethylene glycol chains) directly into the dye molecule. This structural parameter change transforms the dye's solubility characteristics, enabling it to dissolve in organic solvents used in solvent evaporation techniques without requiring encapsulation, while maintaining its photostability and NIR absorption properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where the modified indocyanine green molecule integrates both the chromophoric core (for NIR absorption) and surfactant moieties (for solubility). This composite molecular structure combines the advantages of both components: the photostability of the cyanine dye core and the solvent compatibility of the non-ionic surfactant chains, eliminating the need for separate encapsulation layers.
2Reliability
If indocyanine green is fully encapsulated to prevent water contact, then degradation is prevented, but complex synthesis protocols are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the encapsulation function from a separate structural component and integrates it directly into the indocyanine green molecule itself. By incorporating non-ionic surfactant moieties into the dye's molecular structure, the molecule becomes inherently water-resistant and solvent-compatible, eliminating the need for separate encapsulation layers and complex multi-step synthesis protocols involving nanoparticle formation and dye loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of the NIR-absorbing chromophore and the water-resistant surfactant into a single integrated molecular entity. The modified indocyanine green molecule simultaneously performs light absorption, photostability, and solvent compatibility functions, simplifying the overall system architecture and enabling direct use in solvent evaporation techniques without additional encapsulation steps.
3Reliability
If inorganic nanoparticles are used for NIR response, then excellent NIR response is achieved, but biodegradability is poor and bioaccumulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biocompatible, biodegradable organic molecules (modified indocyanine green with non-ionic surfactant moieties) that can be safely metabolized and excreted by the body after performing their photothermal therapy function. These organic nanoparticles are designed to be temporary therapeutic agents that degrade into harmless components, contrasting with persistent inorganic nanoparticles that accumulate in tissues and pose long-term toxicity risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material composition parameter from inorganic (gold, carbon, metal sulfides) to organic (biocompatible polymers and modified cyanine dyes). This fundamental material parameter change maintains the desired NIR photothermal response while fundamentally altering the biodegradability and toxicity profile, making the therapeutic agent safe for clinical application without bioaccumulation concerns.
4Productivity
If solvent evaporation technology is used for nanoparticle production, then scalable industrial production is enabled, but indocyanine green is not compatible with the solvents used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solubility parameters of indocyanine green by introducing non-ionic surfactant chains (such as polyethylene glycol) into the molecular structure. This structural modification changes the dye's interaction with organic solvents, enabling it to dissolve in the organic phases (e.g., dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate) commonly used in solvent evaporation techniques, thereby enabling scalable industrial production without compatibility issues.
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
Enables the creation of biocompatible nano- and microparticles with enhanced stability and tunable NIR properties, suitable for photothermal therapy, PDT, and imaging, with improved solubility and reduced toxicity, facilitating scalable industrial production.
Implementation Method 1
Near infrared (NIR) laser technology is gaining importance in non-invasive treatment of different diseases... photothermal therapy... NIR absorbing nanoparticles
Implementation Method 2
where often inorganic nanoparticles are used, such as gold nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials... giving excellent NIR response
Implementation Method 3
One of these simple and scalable industrial technologies, is solvent evaporation... integrating the specific class of NIR absorbers with biocompatible polymers as defined in claim 14
Data Source
AI summary
A composite resin particle comprising a near infrared absorber according to general formula I and a resin selected from the group consisting of (poly(amino acids), polyphosphazenes, poly saccahride derivatives, poly(esters), poly(ortho esters), poly(cyano-acry lates) and copolymers thereof (General formula (I)). The composite resin particles are suitable for opto-medical applications such as phototherapies including photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemo-photodynamic nanotherapeutics and fluorescence medical imaging.