Plasticised Superporous Hydrogel Capsule Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing superporous hydrogel materials are inefficient, requiring the use of blowing agents or foaming means that compromise the quality and control of pore size, swelling rate, and mechanical strength, making it difficult to manipulate and insert them into oral dosage capsules effectively.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the formation of an initial hydrogel with an interpenetrating network structure, treated with an acidic solution and monovalent metal salts, followed by freeze-drying and plasticization, allowing for direct molding and insertion into capsules without the need for forming sheets or applying compressive forces, while ensuring controlled swelling and mechanical robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If blowing agents or foaming means are used to create superporous hydrogel materials, then pore structure is formed, but the quality and control of pore size, swelling rate, and mechanical strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes blowing agents and foaming means from the hydrogel preparation process entirely. Instead, it uses a two-stage crosslinking approach where first crosslinking creates the base gel structure, and second crosslinking after water absorption creates the superporous structure with controlled properties, eliminating the harmful effects of foaming agents while maintaining pore formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary crosslinking to form a gel structure before introducing water to create pores. This preliminary action establishes a controlled network that will later form uniform pores with predictable swelling behavior and mechanical properties, avoiding the uncontrolled foam-based pore formation.
2Strength
If dried superporous hydrogel materials are made, then they have hard and brittle properties, but they become insoluble in water and difficult to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a dynamic material that transitions from a manipulable plasticized state to a robust swollen state. The hydrogel is plasticized during manufacturing to allow easy shaping and insertion, then swells in the stomach to achieve mechanical robustness for retention, providing different mechanical properties at different stages of its lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the water content parameter to control material properties. The hydrogel is manufactured with controlled water content to achieve plasticization for ease of handling, then absorbs water in the body to achieve swelling and mechanical robustness, using parameter change to resolve the contradiction between manipulability and strength.
3Ease of operation
If high compressive force is applied to flatten hydrogel pores to form sheets, then manipulation is facilitated, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary plasticization during the manufacturing process itself, incorporating plasticizers into the hydrogel formulation before shaping. This eliminates the need for subsequent high-compressive force treatment to achieve manipulability, reducing process complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the sheet-forming step with high compressive force from the manufacturing process. By directly shaping the plasticized hydrogel into the desired dosage form, it eliminates the complex intermediate step of creating sheets and then compressing them, simplifying the overall process while maintaining manipulability.
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 results in hydrogel materials with enhanced swelling volume, rate, and mechanical strength, enabling them to be easily manipulated and retained in the stomach for extended periods, facilitating controlled release of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, and allowing for customizable duration of action.
Implementation Method 1
treating it with an acidic solution comprising one or more acids, and with a pH in the range 1 to 3, for a period of from 1 to 14 days
Implementation Method 2
treating the initial hydrogel material formed in step a), either concurrently with, or after, treatment step b), with a ≥0M to ≤1.5M solution comprising one or more monovalent metal salts
Implementation Method 3
drying the resulting wet initial hydrogel material using freeze drying, to produce a dried superporous hydrogel material
Implementation Method 4
these pores, by being connected together to form open channel structures, which use capillary action to absorb water very rapidly
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a process for preparing a plasticised superporous hydrogel material comprising subjecting initial hydrogel material to treatment with an acidic solution, an optional treatment with a monovalent metal salt solution, freeze drying and plasticisation. Optionally, the process of the invention produces moulded plasticised superporous hydrogel material bodies that have one or more through-holes formed therein. The plasticised superporous hydrogel material of the present invention may be formulated as a suitable oral dosage form for use an appetite suppressant and for use to deliver a pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical into a human or animal body.