Tumor-Targeting NIR Dye Conjugates for Precise Cancer Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for targeted cancer therapeutic and diagnostic agents that maximize efficacy on tumor cells while minimizing toxicity to healthy cells, as conventional treatments often cause significant adverse side effects due to non-specific delivery.

Innovation Solution

Conjugates are developed combining tumor-targeting near-infrared (NIR) dyes with various therapeutic and diagnostic agents, such as metal nanoparticles, chemotherapeutics, nitroxide radicals, and photodynamic/photothermal therapy agents, to specifically target and deliver these agents to tumor cells, utilizing NIR dye's ability to bypass healthy tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cancer treatments are used, then therapeutic efficacy is achieved, but toxicity to healthy cells increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidtoxicity to healthy cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses tumor-targeting ligands (such as antibodies, peptides, or small molecules) as intermediaries that specifically bind to receptors on tumor cells. These ligands are conjugated to therapeutic agents, creating targeted conjugates that are delivered preferentially to tumor cells rather than healthy cells, thereby maintaining therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity to healthy tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs targeting ligands that confer site-specific activity to the therapeutic agents. The conjugates exhibit localized action at the tumor site through specific molecular recognition between the ligand and its target on tumor cells, ensuring that the therapeutic effect is concentrated where needed while minimizing exposure to healthy cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-specific delivery is used, then treatment coverage is broad, but side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverageVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces tumor-specific ligands as mediators that enable selective recognition and binding to tumor cells. This targeted approach maintains broad adaptability to different tumor types through various ligand options while eliminating the harmful side effects associated with non-specific distribution of therapeutic agents throughout the body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If targeted delivery is implemented, then toxicity to healthy cells is reduced, but delivery complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoxicity to healthy cellsVSAvoiddelivery complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite conjugates by chemically linking tumor-targeting ligands to therapeutic agents. These composite structures integrate the targeting function and therapeutic function into a single molecule, achieving reduced toxicity to healthy cells while avoiding the complexity of separate delivery systems or complex multi-component formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12599682B2Near-infrared dyes and conjugates for targeting tumors

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 LAHJAVIDA LLC

AI summary

The design, synthesis, and functionalization of a conjugate including a tumor-targeting near-infrared (NIR) dye and a therapeutic agent and/or a diagnostic agent, whereby the NIR dye can function to target the therapeutic agent and/or diagnostic agent to tumor cells.