Porous Dissolvable Sheets for High-Load Active Ingredient Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dissolvable compositions used for delivering pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements often face issues such as low active ingredient percentages, high hygroscopicity, slow or incomplete dissolution, and structural instability.
Innovation Solution
The development of pore-containing dissolvable sheets comprising scaffolding agents, blowing agents, and active agents, which absorb minimal moisture and fracture quickly in water, ensuring controlled release of active agents in an aqueous medium, with specific pore sizes and distributions for optimal tensile strength and dissolution speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If dissolvable compositions are made with high active ingredient percentages, then delivery efficiency is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates porous scaffolding agents (such as cellulose, starch, or protein-based materials) that create a three-dimensional network structure with controlled porosity. This scaffold provides structural support and stability while accommodating high concentrations of active ingredients within its pores and matrix, allowing the composition to maintain integrity during storage and handling yet dissolve rapidly when exposed to aqueous environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material systems combining multiple components including scaffolding agents, active ingredients, and functional excipients. This composite approach allows optimization of both structural stability (through the scaffold framework) and active ingredient loading capacity (within the matrix), resolving the contradiction between high concentration and structural integrity.
2Speed
If dissolvable compositions have high hygroscopicity, then dissolution speed is improved, but shelf life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different hygroscopicity within the composition. The scaffolding agent provides a hydrophilic surface that promotes rapid water uptake and dissolution, while the interior matrix can be formulated with lower hygroscopicity to maintain stability during storage. This spatial differentiation allows fast dissolution where needed while preserving shelf life in storage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the moisture content, porosity, and surface area of the composition. By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves rapid dissolution when exposed to aqueous environments while maintaining adequate stability during storage. The controlled porosity allows water penetration for fast dissolution without excessive moisture absorption during shelf storage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dissolvable compositions have slow dissolution, then structural stability is improved, but delivery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmentation by dividing the composition into a scaffold framework and dispersed active ingredient particles within porous spaces. This segmented structure provides structural stability through the continuous scaffold phase while the dispersed active ingredients are rapidly released upon contact with aqueous environments, achieving both stability and efficient delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous structure of the scaffolding agent creates extensive surface area and channels for rapid water penetration and active ingredient release. This porosity enables fast dissolution and efficient delivery without compromising the overall structural integrity of the composition, as the scaffold maintains its framework during the dissolution process.
4Stability of the object's composition
If dissolvable compositions have low active ingredient percentages, then structural stability is improved, but delivery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The porous scaffolding structure provides a high surface area to volume ratio and extensive internal volume for accommodating active ingredients. This allows significantly higher active ingredient loading compared to non-porous formulations while maintaining structural stability through the scaffold framework, thereby improving delivery efficiency without sacrificing stability.
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 sheets provide a stable and efficient delivery system with rapid dissolution and low hygroscopicity, maintaining structural integrity and ensuring consistent release of active agents, enhancing the effectiveness and shelf life of the compositions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more blowing agents
Implementation Method 2
absorbs less than 0.003% moisture (w/w) per minute
Implementation Method 3
a surface of the dissolvable sheet comprises a plurality of pores
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are dissolvable compositions. Further provided herein are dissolvable compositions comprising prebiotics. Further provided herein are methods of printing dissolvable compositions.