Transdermal Drug Device Matrix Layer Polymer Concentration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transdermal drug administration devices face challenges in controlling drug release and maintaining stability over long-term storage due to the migration of water-absorbing polymers in their multi-layer structures, which affects the uniformity and effectiveness of drug delivery.

Innovation Solution

A transdermal drug administration device with a backing layer and a matrix layer, where the matrix layer has distinct regions with varying concentrations of insoluble water-absorbing polymers, ensuring that the polymer with a higher concentration in one region does not migrate, allowing for controlled drug release and stability over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a multi-layer structure with adhesive layer is used, then the device can be manufactured with layered components, but the pharmaceutical component may migrate into the adhesive layer during long-term storage due to diffusion or penetration, resulting in uniform layer constitution and insufficient effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayered structure manufacturingVSAvoidlayer constitution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific region in the matrix layer adjacent to the adhesive layer with controlled pharmaceutical component concentration. This localized concentration control prevents migration into the adhesive layer while maintaining the layered structure's manufacturing advantages. The region has distinct compositional properties compared to other areas of the matrix layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary region within the matrix layer that acts as a buffer zone between the adhesive layer and the main drug reservoir. This intermediary region with controlled pharmaceutical concentration prevents direct migration of pharmaceutical components into the adhesive layer, solving the stability issue while preserving the multi-layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If a polymer-blend matrix with homogenized layer is used, then the matrix structure is simple to manufacture, but it is difficult to highly control the drug release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematrix structure simplicityVSAvoiddrug release control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a specific region within the matrix layer with controlled pharmaceutical component concentration to achieve precise drug release control. This localized compositional variation allows different release characteristics in different areas while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity through a single matrix layer formation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design enables flexible control over drug release rates, reducing the risk of side effects and maintaining stable drug delivery, even after long-term storage, by preventing polymer migration and maintaining the integrity of the matrix layer.

Implementation Method 1

the water-absorbing polymer in the first part has a higher weight concentration than that of the water-absorbing polymer in the second part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a pharmaceutical component in the multi-layer structure may migrate into the adhesive layer due to diffusion or penetration during a long-term storage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP2110125B1Transdermal drug administration device
Publication Date: 2011.03.02 NITTO DENKO CORP
  • EP2110125B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2110125B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2110125B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides a transdermal drug administration device capable of freely controlling release of the drug. The transdermal drug administration device of the present invention contains a backing layer and a matrix layer provided on at least one surface of the backing layer, wherein the matrix layer contains a region located on a proximal side from the backing layer and a region located on a distal side from the backing layer, and the water-absorbing polymers therein have different weight concentrations, which enables high control of a drug released from the device.