Transdermal Patch Microheating Micropores L-DOPA Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transdermal drug delivery systems face challenges in delivering macromolecular drugs like L-DOPA due to the skin's low permeability, requiring invasive methods or complex drug modifications, and struggle to maintain constant drug levels in the blood.
Innovation Solution
A flexible transdermal skin patch that creates temporary micropores in the stratum corneum using microheating units to bypass the skin's barrier, allowing for the non-invasive delivery of both lipophilic and hydrophilic macromolecular drugs by releasing interstitial fluid to mix with drugs stored in sealed reservoirs, facilitating their absorption into the circulatory system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If passive transdermal delivery is used for L-DOPA, then non-invasive administration is achieved, but drug delivery is blocked due to low skin permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the stratum corneum by applying heat and moisture to transform it from a low-permeability state to a high-permeability state, enabling L-DOPA to pass through via passive diffusion without invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent induces phase transition in the stratum corneum lipids through heat and moisture application, changing the ordered lipid structure to a disordered state with increased fluidity and permeability, allowing macromolecular drugs like L-DOPA to penetrate effectively
2Reliability
If invasive procedures are used to deliver L-DOPA, then drug delivery effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent temporarily changes the physical parameters of the skin (temperature and hydration) to enhance permeability, allowing effective drug delivery without causing permanent skin injury or discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses heat and moisture as intermediary agents to mediate between the drug and the skin barrier, temporarily modifying the skin's permeability properties to facilitate drug penetration without direct invasive contact
3Ease of operation
If oral L-DOPA is administered, then ease of administration is improved, but bioavailability and first-pass effects reduce drug effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gastrointestinal absorption pathway with a transdermal delivery pathway, substituting the oral administration mechanism with a skin penetration mechanism that bypasses the liver's first-pass metabolism and achieves reliable drug delivery
4Adaptability or versatility
If the stratum corneum permeability is increased for macromolecular drugs, then drug delivery spectrum is broadened, but skin barrier function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat and moisture preliminarily to the stratum corneum before drug application to temporarily enhance permeability, allowing macromolecular drugs to penetrate while the skin barrier automatically restores its protective function after the treatment period
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic, temporary modification of the stratum corneum permeability that can be activated when needed and automatically reverses, allowing the skin barrier to maintain its protective function while enabling drug delivery when required
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
Enables safe, painless, and effective delivery of medications without complex modifications or invasive devices, maintaining constant drug levels and broadening the spectrum of drugs that can be administered transdermally, reducing first-pass effects and gastrointestinal absorption.
Implementation Method 1
a first polymer layer formed of a first flexible material including multiple electrically addressable microheating units located on a first side of the first polymer layer
Implementation Method 2
releasing interstitial fluid from the micropore which travels up to release the one or more drugs
Implementation Method 3
the one or more drugs passing back through the micropore and through the skin of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible drug delivery patch is described for non-invasively delivering macromolecular drugs directly to the circulatory system of a user. The patch includes multiple sealed reservoirs formed therein, the sealed reservoirs containing the macromolecular drugs which are entrapped within one of a dissolvable polymer matrix using one of nanoparticles or nanofibers or a thermo-responsive hydrogel. The macromolecular drugs being released from the sealed reservoirs and the entrapping material by activating one or more electrically addressable microheating units.