Processed Silk Formulations with Excipients for Versatile Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for methods of producing and processing silk-based products that leverage silk's polymer strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility to meet demands in medicine, agriculture, and material sciences.
Innovation Solution
Silk-based product formulations comprising processed silk and at least one excipient, which can include therapeutic agents, cargos, microorganisms, or biological systems, with varying concentrations ranging from 0.0001% to 99.9% by weight or volume, addressing specific applications in various industries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If silk is processed into various product formulations, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal silk-based product formulations that can serve multiple functions across different industries (medicine, agriculture, material sciences) by incorporating excipients and therapeutic agents into a standardized silk fibroin framework, allowing one base material to fulfill diverse application requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the concentration of silk fibroin and excipients, molecular weight of silk fragments, and physical state (solid, liquid, gel) to optimize formulations for specific applications while maintaining a consistent manufacturing approach
2Reliability
If high concentrations of processed silk are used, then product efficacy is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing silk fibroin concentration ranges (0.0001% to 99.9%) and excipient ratios to achieve effective product formulations at varying concentrations, allowing manufacturers to balance efficacy requirements with production costs and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by combining processed silk with excipients and therapeutic agents, where the synergistic interactions between components enhance product efficacy at optimized concentrations rather than requiring high silk content alone
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include formulations of silk-based product (SBP) formulations and related methods of preparation and use in a variety of applications in the fields of human therapeutics, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and material science.