Available Technologies

Introduction

The pharmaceutical industry is reliant upon various methods that deliver medication to patients. Drug encapsulation systems have been of interest due to patient safety concerns and the need to control the high biological availability, or bioavailability, of drugs. Bioavailability indicates the extent and rate at which the active drug or metabolite enters the system of circulation that is targeted. Drug delivery is dependent upon the method used, bioavailability and the target tissue or system. Current methods for drug delivery include: ingestion, injection (intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous) and inhalation. After the drugs are delivered, the targeted system circulates the medication for an amount of time as a result of the bioavailability. Based upon the efficacy of the delivery system, the bioavailability of the drug can be altered. If altered, it can present a risk to the patient and reduce the effectiveness of the medication.

Description of Technology

This technology is a method of drug encapsulation that can accommodate a variety of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. This particular method utilizes a detailed single emulsion process to form polymer microspheres and nanoparticles. The mixing process can be altered slightly to manipulate the transitional changes of particle shape and size, which controls the ability to encapsulating both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs.

Key Benefits

• Increased Control of emulsion types and polymeric particle shapes through the variance of preparation conditions
• Time Efficient: fewer steps are required, achieving an emulsification time of 1 minute
• Mild Temperature: Without an increased temperature, there are less restrictions on the type of drug that can be encapsulated using this method
• Wide Variety of drugs can be encapsulated as a result of this process, including hydrophobic and hydrophilic medications

Applications

• Drug Encapsulation
• Food Additives
• Active Packaging

Patent Status

Patent Pending.

Inventors

Ilsoon Lee, Shaowen Ji.

Tech ID

TEC2012-0099