Printed Supplement Film Layers for Controlled Release and Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional delivery devices for supplements require additional materials that detract from purity, increase bulk and manufacturing costs, and limit the combinations of supplements that can be blended due to immiscibility and potential chemical reactions, leading to efficacy issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of printed delivery devices composed of multiple layers of printable compositions, each containing supplements, with controlled dissolution or dispersal rates, and optionally supported by a substrate, allowing for tailored release profiles and improved purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional delivery devices use additional materials (fillers and excipients) to enable flow and dissolution, then the supplements can be delivered effectively, but the purity of the supplement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional fillers and excipients from the delivery device formulation, extracting only the necessary supplement ingredients. This is achieved through a printing process that deposits supplement-containing compositions directly onto a substrate without requiring bulk mixing with additional materials, thereby maintaining supplement purity while ensuring delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the delivery device by using a substrate with controlled porosity and hydrophilicity. The substrate parameters (porosity, surface energy, thickness) are optimized to enable proper dissolution and supplement release without needing traditional excipients, thus maintaining purity while ensuring reliable delivery.
2Reliability
If additional materials are added to conventional delivery devices, then flow and dissolution properties are improved, but bulk (mass, weight, volume) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates traditional fillers and excipients that add bulk to delivery devices. By using a printing approach, only the necessary supplement quantities are deposited onto the substrate without adding unnecessary mass from additional materials, thus reducing delivery device weight while maintaining proper flow and dissolution characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin film substrate as the base for the delivery device. This thin film approach minimizes the overall mass and volume of the delivery device while providing sufficient structural support and controlling dissolution properties, eliminating the need for bulky traditional tablet formulations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple supplements are blended together in conventional delivery devices, then comprehensive supplementation is achieved, but immiscibility and chemical reactions cause degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delivery device into multiple distinct layers, with each layer containing different supplements. This segmentation prevents direct contact and potential chemical reactions between incompatible supplements, while still allowing comprehensive supplementation. Each layer can be optimized for its specific supplement requirements without interference from other ingredients.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different regions (layers) of the delivery device different compositions and properties tailored to specific supplement requirements. Each layer has localized characteristics (solubility, dissolution rate, stability) optimized for its contained supplement, enabling diverse supplement combinations without degradation from immiscibility or chemical reactions.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional delivery devices use traditional manufacturing processes, then production is established, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical mixing and compression processes with a printing process. Instead of mechanically blending supplements with fillers and compressing into tablets, the system uses a printing mechanism to deposit supplement-containing compositions directly onto a substrate. This substitution reduces manufacturing steps, decreases production time, and maintains process stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach from batch processing (traditional tablet making) to a more efficient deposition process. By controlling parameters such as print head speed, composition viscosity, and substrate movement, the manufacturing process achieves high throughput with reduced time and cost while maintaining consistent product quality.
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 solution provides shelf-stable, customizable delivery devices with controlled release of supplements, enhancing efficacy and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional materials and enabling diverse supplement combinations.
Implementation Method 1
a first layer formed from a water-soluble, printable composition... controlled dissolution or dispersal rates
Implementation Method 2
between 1-10% pullulan by weight, and 2-12% vegetable glycerin by weight
Data Source
AI summary
Printed delivery devices are disclosed herein. The printed delivery devices may include a layer formed from a water-soluble, printable composition. The water-soluble, printable composition may include purified water, pullulan, and vegetable glycerin. The printed delivery device may also include a support substrate made from polyester and/or polyolefin. The first layer may be printed on the support substrate.