Parallelepiped Alginate Delivery System for Controlled Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for the controlled delivery of biologically active substances, particularly those using alginate polymer matrices, face challenges in achieving reproducible and predictable kinetics, leading to poor absorption efficiency and increased risk of side effects due to uniform barriers and complex swelling and erosion processes.
Innovation Solution
A process for forming a three-dimensional structure with a parallelepiped shape using acid-hydrolyzed alginates and cellulose-based bridges, allowing for adjustable size and pH-dependent or cell-mediated release, enhancing bioavailability and absorption efficiency without increasing dosage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness barrier is used to enclose the biologically active substance, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the delivery kinetics become unpredictable and absorption efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform barrier thickness where different regions have different thicknesses. This allows the barrier to provide protection in thicker regions while enabling controlled release in thinner regions, achieving both manufacturability and predictable delivery kinetics through spatial variation in barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dimensional variation by transitioning from a uniform one-dimensional thickness parameter to a three-dimensional non-uniform thickness distribution. This dimensional change allows the barrier to simultaneously provide protection and controlled release pathways, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacture and predictable kinetics.
2Reliability
If the dosage of biologically active substance is increased to compensate for poor absorption efficiency, then the delivery system can achieve therapeutic effect, but side effects and intolerance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of barrier thickness distribution to improve absorption efficiency. By optimizing the thickness parameter spatially, the system enhances bioavailability of the same dosage, thereby achieving therapeutic effects at lower doses and reducing side effects associated with higher dosages.
3Reliability
If alginates are used to form a barrier for controlled delivery, then the biologically active substance can be protected during passage through the stomach, but the swelling and dissolution process becomes too complex to achieve reproducible kinetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the non-uniform barrier structure before exposure to physiological conditions. The barrier is manufactured with predetermined thickness variations that control the release kinetics in advance, eliminating the need to rely on complex swelling and dissolution processes for kinetic control.
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 process improves the absorption efficiency of biologically active substances by providing controlled release based on environmental conditions, reducing side effects, and enhancing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, while allowing for adaptable structure sizes and shapes for various substances.
Implementation Method 1
a) subjecting alginates to a process of acid hydrolysis
Implementation Method 2
Hydration of alginic acid and alginate causes swelling thereof and formation of a high-viscosity gel
Implementation Method 3
The delivery of the biologically active substance is indeed modulated by the diffusion of said substance through swelling of the polymer matrix
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for obtaining a system for the controlled delivery of a biologically active substance allowing to obtain an effective delivery in terms of percentage of said biologically active substance that is absorbed by the organism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process consisting in obtaining a controlled delivery system in which the biologically active substance is enclosed in a structure having a substantially parallelepiped shape with the desired shape and size, which can internally adapt to the biologically active substance to be carried and externally to the interaction with target cells (for example, enterocytes), thus optimizing the delivery modes of said biologically active substance. Advantageously, the process according to the invention allows to create parallelepiped structures with nanometric, micrometric or larger sizes, thereby making the controlled delivery system thus obtained suitable for a large variety of biologically active substances, including ions, molecules and macromolecules.