Strontium Phosphate Microparticles for In Situ Radioisotope Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radioactive microparticles for medical therapy and imaging lack flexibility in radionuclide selection and dose control, with limited options available for localized delivery and imaging due to off-site preparation and manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

Development of crystalline strontium phosphate microparticles that can be converted from strontium-containing borate glass and bonded with various radioisotopes, allowing for customizable radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic agents to be loaded in situ, enabling flexible and patient-specific treatment and imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If radioactive microparticles are prepared in bulk off-site by third party providers, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but radionuclide selection flexibility and dose control are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidradionuclide selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent components: non-radioactive microparticle carriers prepared in bulk off-site, and radioactive isotopes prepared separately. This segmentation allows the carriers to be manufactured efficiently in advance while maintaining flexibility to load different radionuclides based on patient needs, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The non-radioactive microparticle carriers are prepared in advance (preliminary action) and stored ready for use. This allows the time-consuming and complex radioactive isotope loading to be performed later in a controlled environment, improving overall manufacturing efficiency while preserving the ability to select different radionuclides for different patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If polymer or glass microspheres are used as carriers, then delivery capability is improved, but radioisotope selection is limited by preparation time and delivery constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery capabilityVSAvoidradioisotope selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The microparticle carrier acts as an intermediary between the radionuclide production facility and the patient treatment site. The carrier is prepared independently and can be stored, then later receives the specific radionuclide through a simple loading process. This intermediary approach enables both easy delivery and flexible radionuclide selection by decoupling the two processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If radioisotopes are incorporated during microparticle manufacturing, then product integration is improved, but vaporization issues and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct integrationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radioactive isotope loading step is extracted from the microparticle manufacturing process. The non-radioactive carriers are manufactured completely separately from the radioactive component. This extraction eliminates vaporization issues during manufacturing and reduces manufacturing complexity, while still achieving stable integration of the radionuclide into the carrier through controlled loading procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 approach provides porous microparticles with high surface area for efficient radioisotope binding, enabling precise control over radiation dose and imaging, reducing time-related degradation and exposure risks, while allowing for the use of short-half-life isotopes and avoiding vaporization issues in manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

reacting a strontium-containing borate glass microparticle with a phosphate solution in amounts and for a sufficient time under suitable conditions to convert at least a portion strontium-containing borate glass at the surface to crystalline strontium phosphate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

bonding or adsorbing at least one radioisotope suitable for radioimaging and/or radiotherapy to the surface of said microparticle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS9849200B2Strontium phosphate microparticle for radiological imaging and therapy

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 MO-SCI CORP

AI summary

This invention relates to strontium-phosphate microparticles that incorporate radioisotopes for radiation therapy and imaging.