Peptide Toxin Formulation Using Polar Solvents for Topical Activity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods are ineffective in enhancing the topical insecticidal activity of peptides, which are typically toxic only when ingested or injected, with limited approaches available for converting low topical activity into significant topical activity.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the use of polar organic and aprotic solvents to increase the toxicity of insecticidal peptides, where peptides are dried and then mixed with these solvents to create formulations that enhance their topical insecticidal activity, allowing for application directly to an insect's environment rather than requiring genetic engineering into plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If peptide is applied topically without enhancement, then application simplicity is improved, but insecticidal activity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical-chemical state of the peptide through solvent treatment. The peptide is dissolved in polar organic solvents (acetone, methanol, ethanol) and then precipitated, which alters its conformation and enhances its topical insecticidal activity. This transformation converts a peptide with low topical activity into one with high topical activity, resolving the contradiction between application simplicity and insecticidal effectiveness.
2Reliability
If genetic engineering is used to enhance peptide activity, then insecticidal activity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the enhancement process from the genetic engineering approach and applies it directly to the peptide molecule itself. Instead of modifying the insect's genome or requiring transgenic plants, the method extracts and applies solvent treatment directly to the peptide to enhance its activity. This simplifies the system by removing the need for genetic engineering infrastructure while maintaining high insecticidal activity.
3Reliability
If solvent treatment is applied to enhance peptide activity, then insecticidal activity is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enhancement process into distinct, simple steps: (1) dissolving the peptide in a polar organic solvent, (2) incubating for a specified time, (3) removing the solvent by evaporation or nitrogen stream, and (4) storing the enhanced peptide. This segmentation makes the process manageable and scalable, reducing the perceived complexity while achieving significant enhancement of insecticidal activity.
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 significantly increases the topical insecticidal activity of peptides, enabling effective insect control through direct application to insects or their environments, improving upon existing methods by enhancing peptide activity without the need for genetic modification.
Implementation Method 1
adding either: 1) a polar organic solvent, with or without water, to a dried peptide, or 2) a polar aprotic solvent or other adjuvant to the dried peptide
Implementation Method 2
The procedure described here increases the topical insecticidal toxicity of insecticidal peptides
Data Source
AI summary
Procedures are described which use solvents to increase the topical insecticidal activity of toxic insect peptides. These procedures comprise drying the peptides, if needed, followed by the addition of either: 1) a polar organic solvent, with or without water, to a dried peptide, or 2) the addition of polar aprotic solvent or other adjuvant to the dried peptide, followed by the addition of either: 1) a polar organic solvent, with or without water, (where a polar aprotic solvent is added first) or 2) a polar aprotic solvent or other adjuvant to the peptide polar organic solvent (where the polar organic solvent is added first), to the peptide formulation.