Vegetable Oil-Derived Polyol Hydrogels for Selective Cancer Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nanogel-based delivery systems for cancer treatment suffer from low targeting specificity, leading to inadequate accumulation at tumor sites and significant off-target effects, resulting in poor efficacy and adverse side effects on healthy cells.
Innovation Solution
Development of vegetable oil-derived polyols, particularly linseed oil-derived polyols, incorporated into biopolymer-based hydrogel nanoparticles and microparticles, which are biodegradable and surface-functionalized to enhance targeting and stability, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional nanogel-based delivery systems are used, then drug delivery capability is provided, but targeting specificity is low leading to off-target effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by functionalizing the nanogel surface with specific ligands (antibodies, peptides, aptamers) that provide targeted recognition能力 at the target site while keeping the core structure general. This allows the nanogel to exhibit different properties at different locations: non-specific circulation in blood versus specific binding at tumor sites, thereby improving targeting specificity and reducing off-target effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining biopolymers (such as chitosan, alginate, gelatin) with functional moieties (ligands, drugs, imaging agents) to create multifunctional nanogels. This composite structure integrates the biocompatibility of natural polymers with the targeted delivery capability of functional ligands, resolving the contradiction between general drug delivery and specific targeting.
2Quantity of substance
If nanogels are designed for tumor targeting, then delivery capability is improved, but accumulation at tumor core is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by encapsulating drugs, imaging agents, or therapeutic molecules within the nanogel core, and further nesting the nanogel itself within targeted delivery systems. This multi-layered structure allows for protected cargo delivery while maintaining targeting capability, improving both accumulation quantity and targeting efficiency simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics by designing stimuli-responsive nanogels that can change their properties (size, charge, permeability) in response to tumor microenvironment cues such as pH, enzymes, or redox conditions. This dynamic behavior enables the nanogels to adapt during circulation and release cargo efficiently at the target site, improving both accumulation and targeting efficiency.
3Reliability
If chemotherapy is administered systemically, then cancer treatment is provided, but selectivity is poor causing adverse effects on healthy cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by using nanogels as mediator carriers that transport chemotherapy drugs from the systemic circulation to the tumor target. The nanogel acts as an intelligent intermediary that protects the drug during circulation, directs it to the tumor through surface functionalization, and releases it selectively at the target site, thereby maintaining therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects on healthy cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the taking out principle by extracting the harmful non-selectivity from traditional chemotherapy through the nanogel delivery system. The nanogel separates the drug delivery function from the therapeutic action, allowing the drug to be delivered selectively to tumors while the nanogel structure handles the targeting and protection functions, thus removing the adverse effects on healthy cells.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides compositions and methods for selectively treating a cancer or tumor utilizing an effective amount of a vegetable oil-derived polyol or hydrogel particles comprising a vegetable oil-derived polyol. In some embodiments, the cancer is a gynecologic cancer, specifically an ovarian cancer. In other aspects, the present invention provides a method of targeting and imaging various tumors and/or tumor associated macrophages (TAMs).