Reduced Oxidized Polysaccharide Hydrogels for Biodegradable Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogels produced from oxidized polysaccharides are toxic and reactive due to residual aldehydes, which can damage therapeutic agents and cause in vivo toxicity, and lack suitable pore size for encapsulating small molecular weight therapeutic agents and liposomes effectively.
Innovation Solution
Development of reduced and highly oxidized polysaccharides, such as algoxinol and algoxalate, which are produced by reacting polysaccharides with diol-specific oxidizing agents followed by water-soluble aldehyde-specific reducing agents, resulting in hydrogels with reduced residual aldehydes and enhanced biodegradability, allowing for effective encapsulation and delivery of therapeutic agents and liposomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If polysaccharides are oxidized to increase biodegradability, then biodegradability is improved, but residual aldehydes cause in vivo toxicity and damage to therapeutic agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing reduction treatment on oxidized polysaccharides before hydrogel formation to remove residual aldehydes. This preliminary reduction step eliminates toxic aldehydes while preserving the biodegradable structure, ensuring that the hydrogel is non-toxic yet remains biodegradable for controlled degradation in vivo.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful residual aldehydes into beneficial carboxylic acid groups through controlled oxidation followed by reduction. The oxidation process initially creates aldehydes that are then reduced to carboxylic acids, transforming a toxic intermediate into a beneficial functional group that enhances biodegradability while eliminating toxicity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If oxidized polysaccharides are used to form hydrogels, then biodegradability is enhanced, but the hydrogels become reactive and degrade chemical moieties such as click reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by reducing the oxidized polysaccharides before hydrogel formation and crosslinking. This preliminary reduction eliminates reactive aldehyde groups that would otherwise degrade click reagents and other chemical moieties, ensuring compositional stability while maintaining the desired biodegradability through the reduced carboxylic acid groups.
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogels are formed from polysaccharides, then therapeutic agents can be encapsulated, but the pore size is insufficient for effectively encapsulating small molecular weight therapeutic agents and liposomes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of polysaccharides through oxidation and reduction to alter hydrogel network properties. The reduction process changes the functional groups and spacing within the polymer network, increasing pore size to accommodate small molecular weight therapeutic agents and liposomes while maintaining high encapsulation capacity through controlled crosslinking.
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 resulting hydrogels are biodegradable, non-toxic, and capable of encapsulating small molecular weight therapeutic agents and liposomes, providing sustained delivery and minimizing toxicity, while maintaining structural integrity for targeted in vivo delivery.
Implementation Method 1
oxidizing a polysaccharide by reacting it with an oxidizing agent that converts alcohols in the polysaccharide into aldehydes
Implementation Method 2
reacting the oxidized polysaccharide with a water soluble aldehyde specific reducing agent to produce the reduced polysaccharide
Implementation Method 3
A hydrogel is a polymer gel comprising a network of crosslinked polymer chains. The network structure of hydrogels allows them to absorb significant amounts of water.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to reduced and highly oxidized polysaccharides, such as alginates, that are useful for encapsulating therapeutic or diagnostic agents, or lipid based nanoparticles, e.g., liposomes or virosomes, encapsulating therapeutic or diagnostic agents, prior to their delivery into a subject, as well as methods for making and using them.