Nitric Oxide Foam Formulation for Controlled Skin Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering nitric oxide (NO) for treating skin infections and conditions face challenges such as toxicity at higher concentrations and difficulty in controlling the directionality of NO gas diffusion, leading to prolonged treatment times and increased risk of toxic exposure.
Innovation Solution
A NO topical foam formulation comprising NO, water, and a surfactant with a concentration of 0.1% to 50% w/w, which allows for adjustable foam collapse rates and controlled NO delivery, enabling prolonged exposure times and enhanced therapeutic effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high concentrations of NO gas are used for treatment, then therapeutic effect is improved, but toxicity risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms NO from gaseous form to dissolved form in liquid medium, fundamentally changing the physical state parameter. This allows precise control of NO concentration at therapeutic levels without reaching toxic thresholds, as the liquid carrier enables gradual release and absorption through skin rather than direct gaseous exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a liquid carrier medium as an intermediary between NO gas and the treatment site. This intermediary dissolves and transports NO, enabling controlled delivery through the carrier vehicle that releases NO gradually at the application site, preventing direct high-concentration gaseous exposure that causes toxicity
2Area of stationary object
If NO gas diffusion is allowed to proceed without control, then treatment coverage is improved, but directionality to target site is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies NO-containing carrier locally to the specific treatment site, ensuring the therapeutic agent concentrates where needed rather than diffusing indiscriminately. The carrier vehicle maintains localized presence at the application site, providing targeted delivery to the affected area while minimizing spread to surrounding regions
3Duration of action of moving object
If treatment time is extended to improve therapeutic effect, then NO delivery efficacy is improved, but exposure to toxic levels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of NO from gas to dissolved form in liquid carrier, enabling prolonged treatment duration. The dissolved state allows NO to be released gradually over extended periods through the carrier medium, maintaining therapeutic levels without accumulating to toxic concentrations that would occur with continuous gaseous exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid carrier acts as an intermediary that enables extended treatment duration by controlling the release rate of NO. The carrier maintains NO in a stable, controllable form that can be applied and left in place for prolonged periods, releasing therapeutic amounts gradually rather than requiring continuous high-concentration gaseous exposure
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 NO foam formulation provides prolonged antimicrobial, vasodilatory, and wound healing effects by controlling NO delivery, reducing toxicity risks and improving treatment efficacy for skin infections and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
modifying the NO foam formulations by adjusting the surfactant concentration makes it possible to modify the foam collapse rate and thus the rate of NO delivery
Implementation Method 2
NO gas diffusion to just the site on the skin requiring treatment
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are topical nitric oxide (NO) formulations containing a surfactant and methods that deliver NO to treat skin wounds, burns, infections, site of inflammations, or other skin conditions requiring treatment, as well as to eradicate and degrade biofilms on the skin surface. The NO formulations can be modified to prolong the time of NO exposure by modulating the surfactant concentration.