Polysaccharide-Encapsulated Anthracyclines for Tumour Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin, and epirubicin, face challenges due to low targeted drug delivery to tumour tissues and high toxicity, leading to reduced efficacy and severe side effects, including cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression.

Innovation Solution

Encapsulating anthracyclines with polysaccharides, particularly dextran, to form nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10-500 nm, allowing for targeted drug delivery and reducing toxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anthracyclines are administered in conventional form, then anti-tumour efficacy is achieved, but toxicity to healthy tissues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tumour efficacyVSAvoidtoxicity to healthy tissues
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs polysaccharide-based nanoparticles as intermediary carriers to transport anthracycline drugs to tumour tissues. The nanoparticles serve as a mediator between the drug and the tumour, enabling targeted delivery while protecting healthy tissues from direct drug exposure, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and toxicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating nanoparticles with specific surface properties and size characteristics (10-500 nm) that enable selective accumulation in tumour tissues. The nanoparticles are designed to have different properties in different locations: drug-loading capacity in the core and targeted interaction capability on the surface, achieving localized therapeutic effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If higher doses of anthracyclines are administered, then anti-tumour effectiveness increases, but side effects worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tumour effectivenessVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of drug delivery by formulating anthracyclines as nanoparticles with controlled size (10-500 nm), surface charge, and polysaccharide composition. These parameter changes enable the drug to achieve higher effective concentrations at the tumour site while maintaining lower systemic toxicity, allowing increased anti-tumour effectiveness without proportional increase in side effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If anthracyclines are used to treat various tumours, then therapeutic versatility is achieved, but cardiac toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic versatilityVSAvoidcardiac toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal nanoparticle platform based on polysaccharides that can carry different anthracycline drugs and be adapted for treating various types of tumours. The nanoparticle system itself remains constant while the drug payload can be varied, providing multi-functionality for different therapeutic applications without transferring cardiac toxicity risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

Enhances the therapeutic index by improving tumour targeting and minimizing side effects, enabling effective anti-tumour therapy with reduced cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression.

Implementation Method 1

Encapsulating anthracyclines with polysaccharides, particularly dextran, to form nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10-500 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

The invention relates to a new form of a drug in the form of anthracycline encapsulated with a polysaccharide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3761955B1Anthracycline encapsulated with polysaccharide for use in the treatment of tumours
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 NANOVELOS
  • EP3761955B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2D
  • EP3761955B1 patent drawingFigure 2E~2I
  • EP3761955B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3E

AI summary

The invention relates to a new form of a drug in the form of anthracycline encapsulated with a polysaccharide selected from epirubicin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, idarubicin, especially encapsulated with dextran, for use in the treatment of specific tumours.