8,9-Unsaturated Sterols for Oligodendrocyte Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis lack effective methods to enhance oligodendrocyte generation and myelination, which are crucial for remyelination and repairing damaged myelin sheaths in the central nervous system.

Innovation Solution

The enhancement and induction of 8,9-unsaturated sterols in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through direct or indirect administration of these sterols, including non-natural compounds with specific structural features, to promote OPC differentiation, survival, proliferation, and maturation, thereby facilitating oligodendrocyte generation and myelination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatments for neurological diseases are used, then disease management is maintained, but oligodendrocyte generation and myelination enhancement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoligodendrocyte generationVSAvoidmyelination rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying sterol structures (creating 8,9-unsaturated sterols with specific double bond positioning) and adjusting their concentrations in OPCs to optimize oligodendrocyte generation and myelination outcomes, directly addressing the insufficiency of current treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses 8,9-unsaturated sterols as intermediary substances that mediate between OPCs and the myelination process, enhancing oligodendrocyte generation and promoting remyelination without directly replacing existing disease management approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If 8,9-unsaturated sterols are administered to enhance oligodendrocyte generation, then myelination is improved, but treatment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremyelination rateVSAvoidtreatment protocol

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates the specific 8,9-unsaturated sterol component as the active therapeutic agent, separating it from complex natural sterol mixtures to create a targeted treatment that improves remyelination while managing complexity through molecular specificity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If non-natural 8,9-unsaturated sterols with specific structural features are used, then oligodendrocyte formation is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoligodendrocyte formationVSAvoidsterol synthesis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies sterol molecular parameters by introducing 8,9-unsaturation and specific double bond positioning to create non-natural sterols with enhanced oligodendrocyte formation capability, balancing improved efficacy with manageable synthetic complexity through targeted structural modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12102644B2Compounds and methods of promoting myelination

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIV

AI summary

A method of promoting the generation of oligodendrocytes from oligodendrocyte precursor cells by enhancing their survival and/or maturation includes administering to the cell an effective amount of an agent that enhances and/or induces accumulation of 8,9-unsaturated sterols in the OPCs, the agent comprising a compound having the formula (I): wherein variables Y1, R1 and R2 are as defined herein.