Sulfonated Dendrimer Eye Drops for Conjunctivitis Prophylaxis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional therapies for conjunctivitis, particularly viral conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus, are ineffective, require frequent administration, and often lead to unnecessary antibiotic use due to lack of effective low-toxicity topical antivirals, failing to prevent spread to the other eye or in populations at risk.

Innovation Solution

Topical administration of dendrimers with 1 to 8 generations and sulfonic acid- or sulfonate-containing moieties to the eye for treating or preventing microbial infections, including conjunctivitis, offering antiviral and antibacterial activity to address both viral and bacterial infections simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional therapies are used for viral conjunctivitis, then treatment is provided, but the therapies are ineffective and require frequent administration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of treatmentVSAvoidfrequency of administration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the treatment by using dendrimers with specific generations (1-8) and sulfonic acid- or sulfonate-containing moieties, which fundamentally alters the therapeutic mechanism from conventional ineffective therapies to an effective antiviral and antibacterial treatment that reduces administration frequency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite dendrimer structures combining multiple generations with specific functional groups (sulfonic acid- or sulfonate-containing moieties) to achieve both antiviral and antibacterial activity in a single formulation, resolving the contradiction by providing reliable dual-action treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional therapies are used, then treatment is provided, but unnecessary antibiotic use occurs due to lack of effective low-toxicity topical antivirals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of infection type identificationVSAvoidunnecessary antibiotic use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dendrimer composition provides universal antiviral and antibacterial activity in a single topical formulation, eliminating the need to choose between antiviral or antibiotic treatment and preventing unnecessary antibiotic use while maintaining accurate treatment for the actual infection type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful situation of unnecessary antibiotic use into a beneficial outcome by providing effective low-toxicity topical antivirals that allow accurate differentiation and treatment of viral versus bacterial infections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If conventional therapies are used, then treatment is provided, but spread to the other eye or in populations at risk is not prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprophylactic effectivenessVSAvoidspread of infection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dendrimer composition can be applied prophylactically before infection occurs or to the uninfected eye, providing preliminary protection that prevents the spread of infection, unlike conventional therapies that only treat established infections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If dendrimers with 1 to 8 generations and sulfonic acid- or sulfonate-containing moieties are administered topically, then antiviral and antibacterial activity is achieved, but long-term prophylaxis and prevention of spread are also required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidduration of prophylactic protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dendrimer formulation provides continuous therapeutic and prophylactic action through sustained topical application, maintaining antiviral and antibacterial protection over time and preventing infection spread, thereby extending the duration of beneficial action from mere treatment to long-term prophylaxis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11219691B2Method of treatment or prophylaxis of infections of the eye

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 STARPHARMA PTY LTD

AI summary

A microbial infection in an eye of a subject is treated or prevented by topically administering to the eye an effective amount of a macromolecule or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that includes a dendrimer of 1 to 8 generations with one or more sulfonic acid- or sulfonate-containing moieties attached to one or more surface groups of the outermost generation of the dendrimer. Compositions containing the macromolecule or salt are useful in these methods.