Polymethine Dye Nanocarriers for SLCO-Targeted Adenocarcinoma Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for cancer therapy are non-selective, leading to adverse effects on healthy cells and inefficient targeting of adenocarcinoma tissues due to altered SLCO gene expression.

Innovation Solution

A nanostructured delivery system comprising polymers and lipids, functionalized with polymethine dyes, selectively targets adenocarcinoma cells through altered SLCO gene expression, enhancing targeted transport and reducing systemic side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are used for cancer therapy, then drug delivery to tumor tissue is enhanced through EPR effect, but selective targeting of adenocarcinoma cells is lost leading to adverse effects on healthy cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug delivery efficiencyVSAvoidadverse effects on healthy cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nanoparticle surface is functionalized with polymethine dyes that specifically bind to OATP transporters overexpressed in adenocarcinoma cells. This creates local specificity at the tumor cell level while maintaining the general EPR effect for tissue penetration, resolving the contradiction between enhanced delivery and selective targeting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system combines polymers and lipids to form composite nanoparticles, then further functionalizes them with polymethine dyes. This multi-component composite structure integrates the benefits of EPR effect (from the nanoparticle core) with specific molecular targeting (from the dye-transporter interaction).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If nanoparticle delivery systems are used, then passive enrichment in tumor tissue occurs via EPR effect, but non-specific uptake by both tumor and healthy cells reduces therapeutic precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug delivery productivityVSAvoidtargeting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the nanoparticle surface by attaching polymethine dyes with specific molecular structures that match OATP transporter binding sites. This parameter modification transforms non-specific uptake into specific targeting while preserving the overall delivery productivity provided by the nanoparticle system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If antibodies are used to decorate nanoparticle surfaces for targeting, then cell targeting is achieved through antigen binding, but the transport mechanism remains passive and non-selective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction of harmful effectsVSAvoidtargeting reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the antibody-antigen binding mechanism with a polymethine dye-OATP transporter interaction. This substitution changes the targeting mechanism from passive recognition to active transporter-mediated uptake, significantly improving targeting reliability for adenocarcinoma cells that overexpress OATP.

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

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 system achieves selective delivery of active ingredients to adenocarcinoma cells, improving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing harm to healthy tissues.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one polymethine dye comprised in the nanostructured delivery system mediates the targeted transport of the nanostructured delivery system into said adenocarcinoma cells via the expression product of the one or more SLCO1 genes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTargeted transport via OATP1 transporter:

Data Source

PatentEP4267115B1Nanostructured delivery system for tumor treatment
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SMARTDYELIVERY
  • EP4267115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4267115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4267115B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a nanostructured delivery system comprising at least one polymer and/or at least one lipid and at least one polymethine dye, for use in treating a subject suffering from an adenocarcinoma comprising adenocarcinoma cells with a gene expression alteration in one or more SLCO genes. Therein, the at least one polymethine dye mediates targeted transport of the nanostructured delivery system into said adenocarcinoma cells. The invention relates further to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the nanostructured delivery system. The invention also relates to a method for targeted transport into neoplastic tissue using the nanostructured delivery system and to a use of the nanostructured delivery system or of the pharmaceutical composition of the invention for detection by fluorescence based on the accumulation of said system or composition in neoplastic tissues or cells.