Solid Anesthetic Lozenge for Rapid Transmucosal Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental anesthesia methods, including creams, gels, and patches, suffer from slow induction times, superficial anesthesia, and low active substance load rates, making them inadequate for rapid and deep anesthesia, especially for procedures involving enamel, dentin, or channels, and pose challenges with needle phobia and waste management.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical product comprising a polymer phase of poly(vinyl) pyrrolidone (PVP) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) that allows for a high load rate of anesthetics (>40% by mass) and rapid dissolution on contact with water, providing flexible, hygroscopic, and adhesive properties for efficient transdermal or transmucosal delivery without leaving residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If cream, gel or wet patch type products based on anesthetic formulations are used, then the anesthesia induction time is slow (typically 1 hour), but the resulting anesthesia is a light surface anesthesia that is rarely sufficient for routine care procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanesthesia induction speedVSAvoidactive substance load rate
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the anesthetic formulation from semi-solid (cream/gel) to solid (lozenge/patch), and modifies the polymer matrix composition to achieve rapid dissolution. This parameter change enables both fast induction (within minutes) and deep anesthesia while maintaining high active substance load rates up to 65% by mass

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite polymer system combining poly(vinyl) pyrrolidone (PVP) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in specific ratios (PVP: 25-53%, CMC: 5-30%). This composite material provides both rapid dissolution kinetics and high anesthetic loading capacity, resolving the contradiction between induction speed and substance load rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Speed

If needle-based devices are used to inject anesthetics, then rapid and deep anesthesia can be achieved, but sharp biological waste must be disposed of through specialized channels and needle phobia affects a significant portion of the population

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanesthesia induction speedVSAvoidneedle phobia and waste management issues
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical needle injection system with a non-invasive solid formulation (lozenge or patch) that delivers anesthetic through dissolution and passive diffusion. This substitution eliminates needles entirely, removing the source of patient anxiety and sharp waste while maintaining effective anesthetic delivery through the polymer matrix dissolution mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If the pharmaceutical product comprises high content of active substance (>40% by mass), then rapid and deep anesthesia is achieved, but the formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive substance load rateVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the polymer-to-anesthetic ratio and selects specific polymer types (PVP and CMC) with known dissolution properties to achieve high anesthetic loading (40-65%) while maintaining simple processing. The formulation complexity is managed by controlling dissolution rate parameters rather than adding complex delivery mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a binary polymer system (PVP + CMC) that is simple in composition but effective in function. This composite approach allows high anesthetic loading while maintaining ease of manufacture through straightforward mixing and molding processes, avoiding the need for complex encapsulation or multi-layer structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 product achieves rapid and deep anesthesia with high active substance release in less than an hour, addressing the limitations of existing formulations by ensuring effective pain management without the drawbacks of needle-based administration and residue generation.

Implementation Method 1

the polymeric phase used in the pharmaceutical product according to the invention consists of poly(vinyl) pyrrolidone (PVP) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or one of its salts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydration: Hydrates

Implementation Method 2

capable of swelling with water or the aqueous solution and then dissolving completely, i.e. without generating residues, thus releasing the anesthetic it contains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRapid dissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

local anesthesia temporarily and reversibly stops the excitability of sensory nerve fibers... passive diffusion of active substances at the topical, transdermal, transgingival and/or transmucosal level

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4262753B1Pharmaceutical product, method for preparing same and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2025.02.05 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP4262753B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4262753B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4262753B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical product comprising between 40% and 65% by mass of at least one active substance; between 25% and 53% by mass of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP); and between 5% and 30% by mass of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or a salt thereof; the % by mass being expressed relative to the total dry mass of said product. The present invention also relates to a packaging in which this product is stored, to a method for preparing this product and to the medical use thereof, in particular as an anaesthetic or for promoting or improving healing.