Pulsed Incoherent Light Transdermal Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for transdermal drug delivery, such as iontophoresis and sonophoresis, often cause skin damage and irritation due to their invasive nature, limiting their effectiveness and safety for prolonged use.

Innovation Solution

The use of pulsed incoherent light to facilitate the delivery of biologically active substances through the skin without damaging the stratum corneum, allowing for controlled and targeted delivery of substances with varying molecular weights, including those beyond the traditional 500 Dalton limit, using a dermal patch with a red algae polysaccharide-based matrix.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If invasive methods such as iontophoresis or sonophoresis are used to enhance transdermal delivery, then delivery efficiency is improved, but skin damage and irritation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidskin damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical and electrical methods (iontophoresis, sonophoresis, microneedles) with a photokinetic system using pulsed incoherent light to achieve transdermal delivery. This substitution eliminates physical penetration and electrical current through the skin, thereby avoiding skin damage while maintaining enhanced delivery efficiency through light-induced kinetic effects on the stratum corneum

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of energy delivery from mechanical/electrical to optical (light). By using pulsed incoherent light at specific wavelengths and pulse rates, the system modifies the kinetic state of water molecules in the stratum corneum, creating transient pathways for drug penetration without the harmful effects of invasive methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the stratum corneum is damaged to enable delivery of large molecular weight substances, then delivery capability is improved, but skin barrier function is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery capabilityVSAvoidskin barrier function

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic pulsed light delivery rather than continuous illumination. The pulsed nature (specific pulse rates and duty cycles) creates transient, reversible modifications to the stratum corneum structure that allow large molecular weight substance penetration while permitting the skin barrier to recover between pulses, thus maintaining overall barrier function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses specific wavelengths and pulse parameters that pre-condition the stratum corneum to create safe, transient pathways without causing cumulative damage. The light parameters are optimized beforehand to ensure that the energy delivered creates sufficient penetration pathways while remaining below thresholds for permanent structural damage to the skin barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If conventional transdermal patches are used, then simple application is achieved, but only small molecular weight substances can be delivered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication simplicityVSAvoidmolecular weight range

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The photokinetic system combined with conventional patch application creates a multi-functional platform that maintains the simplicity of patch application while adding light activation capability. This universal system can deliver substances across a broad molecular weight range (from small molecules to large proteins and peptides) using the same basic patch application method, thereby achieving both ease of operation and expanded adaptability

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

This method enables safe and efficient transdermal delivery of a wide range of biologically active substances, including large molecular weight compounds, without causing skin damage or denaturing the substances, offering enhanced permeation kinetics and eliminating the need for animal testing for human skin applications.

Implementation Method 1

The use of pulsed incoherent light to facilitate the delivery of biologically active substances through the skin without damaging the stratum corneum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotokinetic effect:

Data Source

PatentUS9474911B2Delivery of large molecular weight biologically active substances

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 LUCI THERAPEUTICS LLC

AI summary

The invention relates generally to intradermal, transdermal, and/or transmembrane delivery of biologically active substances in the epidermis and/or through the skin, sub-dermal tissues, blood vessels and cellular membranes without causing damage to the cellular surface, tissue or membrane. The biologically active substances may have a molecular weight no less than about 5.8 kDa to about 2,500 kDa, such as Hyaluronic Acid (HA). The biologically active substances may be deposited in a dermal patch containing a red algae polysaccharide-based matrix, wherein the red algae polysaccharide is an extract of Chondrus crispus at 2% by weight of the dermal patch. The invention provides systems and methods for enhanced intradermal, transdermal, and/or transmembrane delivery of such biologically active substances using pulsed incoherent light. The invention further provides a device for the application of the pulsed incoherent light to cellular surfaces and membranes using those compositions and methods.