Crosslinked Polymer Nanoparticles for Active Ingredient Solubility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current formulations of active ingredients, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, face inefficiencies due to low water solubility, poor translocation through plants, and the need for additional surfactants and solvents, which can have toxicological and environmental drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
The development of polymer nanoparticles, specifically less than 100 nm in diameter, incorporating active compounds like acaracides, fungicides, and herbicides, which are crosslinked using methods like electromagnetic radiation, chemical, or thermal induction, allowing for controlled release and enhanced solubility and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional formulations of active ingredients are used, then the active ingredients can be applied, but they exhibit low water solubility and poor translocation through plants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining active ingredients with polymer nanoparticles that have both polar and non-polar regions. This composite structure allows the nanoparticle to solubilize hydrophobic active ingredients while maintaining water solubility, and the small size enables translocation through plant structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of size by formulating active ingredients into nanoparticles less than 100 nm in diameter. This size reduction improves both water solubility and the ability to translocate through plants, resolving the contradiction between solubility and translocation efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If additional surfactants and solvents are added to improve solubility, then the active ingredients become more soluble, but toxicological and environmental drawbacks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or eliminates the need for separate surfactants and solvents by incorporating their functions directly into the polymer nanoparticle structure. The nanoparticle itself provides solubilization capacity without requiring additional harmful chemical additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer nanoparticle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a solubilizing agent, a delivery vehicle, and a protective carrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate surfactants and solvents, reducing toxicological and environmental impacts.
3Quantity of substance
If polymer nanoparticles less than 100 nm in diameter are used, then solubility and translocation are improved, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the formulation into discrete polymer nanoparticle units, each independently providing solubilization and delivery functions. This segmentation into standardized nanoparticle building blocks simplifies the overall formulation approach despite the advanced functionality.
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
These polymer nanoparticles improve the solubility, dispersibility, and translocation of active ingredients, reducing the need for surfactants and solvents, while maintaining efficacy, and can be designed for triggered or sustained release.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer nanoparticle can have both relatively polar and relatively non-polar regions. The polar regions can be made up of ionizable or ionized chemical groups.
Implementation Method 2
Polymer nanoparticles of biologically-active and non-biologically-active active ingredients (AIs) are of particular interest because of the potential for reduced use of formulants, improved availability, improved solubility/dispersiblity
Implementation Method 3
They are also found to protect biologically active species from degradation, and can be used remove pollutants from the environment.
Implementation Method 4
In some embodiments, the trigger for release is selected from the group consisting of pH change, temperature change, barometric pressure change, osmotic pressure change, exposure to water, exposure to a solvent, changes in shear forces, application of the formulation, exposure to a bacteria, exposure to an enzyme, exposure to electromagnetic radiation and exposure to free radicals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A composition including a collapsed, polymer nanoparticle and at least one organic, neutral compound associated with the nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle is less than 100 nm in diameter, and the polymer comprises a water-soluble polyelectrolyte, has a molecular weight of at least about 100,000 Dalton and is cross-linked. The organic, neutral compound is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments, colorants, oils, UV-light absorbing molecules, fragrances, flavoring molecules, preservatives, electro-conductive compounds, thermoplastic compounds, adhesion promoters, penetration enhancers, anti- corrosive agents, and combinations thereof.