Porous Heatable Substrate for Therapeutic Aerosol Generation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerosol delivery systems for therapeutic agents are inefficient, difficult to use, and lack reproducibility, particularly for pulmonary drug delivery, which poses challenges in targeting and stability, especially for newer applications like gene therapy.
Innovation Solution
A porous heatable substrate embedded with a vaporizable carrier compound and therapeutic agent, where heating vaporizes the carrier to release the agent, which then condenses into aerosol particles for precise delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional aerosol delivery systems are used, then aerosol generation is achieved, but efficiency is poor and reproducibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The porous substrate is pre-loaded with a precise amount of therapeutic agent and carrier compound before use. This preliminary loading ensures that each aerosol generation cycle delivers a reproducible dose, as the substrate is designed to release a controlled quantity of material upon heating, eliminating the need for complex metering mechanisms during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a porous substrate that serves as both the delivery mechanism and the metering system. The porous structure allows for controlled release of the therapeutic agent through capillary action and surface area control, providing reproducible dosing while maintaining high efficiency in aerosol generation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional aerosol delivery systems are used, then aerosol generation is achieved, but targeting precision is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls aerosol particle size and delivery parameters by adjusting the heating temperature and duration, which directly affects the vaporization rate of the carrier compound and the resulting aerosol characteristics. This allows precise control over targeting without adding complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical metering and targeting systems with a thermal field-based approach. By using controlled heating of the porous substrate, the system achieves precise dosing and targeting through thermodynamic control rather than mechanical complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex metering systems are used, then dosing control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous substrate performs the metering function autonomously through its physical structure. The capillary pores and surface area of the substrate automatically control the release rate of the therapeutic agent when heated, eliminating the need for external metering mechanisms, motors, or sensors, thus achieving precise dosing with minimal system complexity.
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
This approach enhances the efficiency and reproducibility of aerosol delivery, allowing for precise dosing and improved targeting of therapeutic agents to the lungs, reducing systemic side effects and enabling effective treatment of respiratory diseases.
Implementation Method 1
when the porous heatable substrate is heated to at least the vaporization point of the vaporizable carrier, the carrier vaporizes to release the therapeutic agent from the composition
Implementation Method 2
upon cooling, the carrier condenses around the at least one therapeutic agent to thereby form an aerosol comprising the at least one therapeutic agent and the carrier compound
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for generating an aerosol of a therapeutic agent and methods of using and preparing the same are disclosed. The device includes a heatable porous substrate (e.g., a porous metal or metal alloy) embedded with a composition containing a vaporizable carrier compound (e.g., a phospholipid) and at least one therapeutic agent. The device can be incorporated into a delivery device, such as a metered dose inhaler or an exposure chamber. When the heatable porous substrate is heated, such as by resistive heating, the carrier compound is vaporized and both it and the at least one therapeutic agent are carried out of the porous substrate and, upon cooling, form aerosol particles comprising the at least one therapeutic agent.