Silicon-Enriched Microalgae Composition for Metabolic Syndrome

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current compositions for treating or preventing metabolic syndrome-related pathologies such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation are insufficiently effective and costly, with limited success from low-calorie diets.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising microalgae enriched with silicon in a water-soluble form, which can be administered orally, improving blood lipid characteristics, oxidative stress, and inflammation caused by a high-calorie diet, utilizing spirulina as the microalgae source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional treatments are used to treat or prevent metabolic syndrome-related pathologies, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but cost increases and effectiveness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveeffectivenessVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses microalgae biomass as a cost-effective therapeutic agent that can be produced inexpensively through cultivation. The microalgae serve as a disposable, renewable resource that delivers therapeutic silicon without requiring expensive pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, directly addressing the cost-effectiveness contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If low-calorie diets are implemented to improve overweight and obesity, then weight management is attempted, but success is limited and effects are short-lived

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoideffectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces microalgae enriched with silicon as an intermediary substance that mediates the therapeutic effect. Rather than relying solely on dietary restriction, the silicon-enriched microalgae act as a bioactive agent that improves metabolic parameters, providing a more reliable and sustainable approach to metabolic syndrome management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If silicon is administered in conventional forms (sodium silicate, lysine silicate, monomethyltrisilanol), then anti-atherosclerotic effects are observed in animal models, but these forms cannot be administered intravenously to humans and show non-significant variation in plasma lipids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiological effectVSAvoidease of administration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses microalgae as a composite delivery system that combines silicon with biological matrices naturally present in the microalgae structure. This composite approach allows the silicon to be delivered in a form that is both biologically effective and suitable for oral human administration, overcoming the limitations of conventional silicon forms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If current treatments for metabolic syndrome are used, then some therapeutic effects are achieved, but the treatments are too expensive and insufficiently effective

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveeffectivenessVSAvoidcomplexity of treatment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and concentrates silicon within the microalgae biomass through controlled cultivation. By taking out and enriching the active silicon component within the microalgae structure, the treatment achieves higher effectiveness with a simpler, more targeted approach compared to conventional multi-component pharmaceutical treatments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3191106B1Composition including silicon-enriched microalgae for therapeutic use
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 PHYCO BIOTECH
  • EP3191106B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3191106B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3191106B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composition including silicon-rich water-soluble microalgae, for preventing or treating a condition linked to metabolic syndrome. Advantageously, a composition including silicon-rich water-soluble microalgae, for preventing or treating a condition linked to metabolic syndrome, according to the present invention, includes silicon-enriched water-soluble spirulina. The invention further relates to the use of such a composition for preventing or treating a condition selected among diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis and inflammation. The invention further relates to the use of such a composition for preventing or reducing excess weight, for preventing or reducing adipogenesis or as an antioxidant agent.