Plant Fruit Vesicle Carriers for Reproducible Nucleic Acid Uptake

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug delivery systems (DDS) for nucleic acid reagents such as siRNAs, shRNAs, and miRNAs lack a carrier that can reproducibly facilitate their uptake into cells.

Innovation Solution

A carrier using vesicles derived from plant fruits, particularly from the Malpighiaceae family, forms a conjugate with nucleic acids, enabling easy uptake and protection against degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional drug delivery systems are used for nucleic acid reagents, then delivery to cells is attempted, but reproducible uptake into cells cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereproducible uptake into cellsVSAvoidcarrier structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses plant fruit-derived vesicles as an intermediary carrier to mediate the delivery of nucleic acid reagents into cells. These natural vesicles serve as a bridge between the nucleic acid cargo and target cells, enabling reproducible uptake through endocytosis without requiring complex synthetic carrier structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The plant fruit-derived vesicles possess inherent properties that enable them to self-assemble and naturally facilitate cellular uptake. The vesicles' natural membrane structure and surface characteristics allow them to be directly taken up by cells through endocytosis, eliminating the need for complex external delivery mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If plant fruit-derived vesicles are used as carriers, then nucleic acid uptake into cells is facilitated, but the specific mechanism of action needs to be defined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuptake facilitationVSAvoidmechanism characterization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical delivery systems with a natural biological system (plant vesicles) that facilitates nucleic acid uptake through natural cellular endocytosis mechanisms. This substitution simplifies the delivery process while maintaining effectiveness, as the vesicles' natural properties enable direct cellular internalization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If nucleic acids are administered without a carrier, then administration is simple, but degradation occurs and cellular introduction is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellular introduction efficiencyVSAvoidcarrier system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs plant fruit-derived vesicles with flexible membrane structures to encapsulate and protect nucleic acid reagents. These thin-film vesicular structures provide a protective barrier against degradation while maintaining the ability to fuse with or be taken up by cell membranes, thereby enhancing cellular introduction efficiency without requiring complex rigid carrier systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 carrier effectively holds and introduces nucleic acids into cells, offering a reliable DDS for gene therapy and other applications by preventing degradation and facilitating endocytosis.

Implementation Method 1

allowing the carrier for a nucleic acid and a nucleic acid to coexist in a solvent to thereby form a conjugate of the carrier for a nucleic acid and the nucleic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConjugate formation:

Implementation Method 2

can introduce the thus held nucleic acid into cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEndocytosis:

Data Source

PatentEP3995154B1Nucleic acid carrier and method for administering nucleic acid
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 TOKYO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
  • EP3995154B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3995154B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP3995154B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a novel carrier for introducing a nucleic acid such as a siRNA into a cell. The carrier for a nucleic acid of the present invention includes vesicles from a plant in the family Malpighiaceae, and preferably vesicles derived from acerola. A method for administering a nucleic acid according to the present invention includes forming a conjugate of the carrier for a nucleic acid of the present invention and a nucleic acid and administering the conjugate.