Patent Watch
This article summarizes selected patents in the area of controlled release or delivery that were issued from March 2, 2021 through June 1, 2021. Greater detail on each of these patents is given on the U.S. patent website https://patft.uspto.gov.
Industrial Applications
US-10961443- Oil field chemical delivery fluids, methods for their use in the targeted delivery of oil field chemicals to subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs and methods for tracing fluid flow
Description of fluids containing microcapsules filled with oil field chemicals to be delivered to areas of a reservoir. Microcapsules have functionalized surface groups that allow for targeted delivery and thus specific placement of the capsules in an area of the well.
US-10968385- Nanoparticle-enhanced resin coated Frac sand composition
A nanoparticle-resin coated frac sand composition is described here. The composition may be used as a proppant in a hydraulic fracturing operation.
US-10974289- Methods of mitigating bituminous material adhesion using nano-particles
Description of nanoparticle-based film used to treat the surfaces of well/drilling equipment to prevent buildup of the tar-like bituminous material often encountered in drilling environments.
US-10995610- Nanotracer for oil recovery and method of preparation thereof
Description of a nanoparticle formulation with a fluorescent core used for tracing of fluids used in fracking and recovery of the fluids themselves.
US-11007268- Microcapsule having a microcapsule shell material that is rupturable via a retro-dimerization reaction
Description of a microcapsule formulation with a shell that can be ruptured by a “retro-dimerization” reaction.
US-11008507- Nanoparticle-enhanced resin coated frac sand composition
Description of a fracking composition in which a sand is combined with nanoparticles of either silica, alumina, zinc oxide or titanium oxide and a diluent such as methanol. The formulation can be used as a proppant during fracturing operations by injecting the fracking fluid into a subterranean formulation.
US-11020723- Degradable microcapsules for porosity reduction
A formulation that uses a microcapsule with a degradable shell encapsulating a polymerizing agent. The shell is ruptured by exposure to an energy source such as a laser, UV or heat irradiation. This has applications in self-healing coatings.
US-11021646- Nanoparticle design for enhanced oil recovery
A method of formulating a nanoparticle specific to hydrocarbon recovery in subterranean formations. The method may consider environmental conditions onsite, and defining the nanoparticle parameters specific to that site. The nanoparticles are to be suspended in a liquid carrier and injected into the site with water resulting in an oil/water emulsion that can then be extracted.
Agriculture
US-11000579- Recombinant Eimeria maxima protein delivered as nanoparticles
Description of a subunit vaccine. A nanoparticle conjugated with immunogenic proteins such as rIMP1 is provided with the purpose of protecting poultry from the Eimeria genus of disease-causing organisms.
Diagnostic/Sensing
US-10988757- Magnetic nanostructure for detecting and isolating cell-free DNA comprising cationic polymer and magnetic-nanoparticle-containing conductive polymer
Description of a magnetic nanoparticle containing a conductive polymer and coated with a cationic polymer to collect free DNA from samples such as urine, CSF, or blood for diagnostic purposes such as cancer or genetic mutation screening.
US-11007207- Preparations of gold/mesoporous silica hybrid nanoparticle and applications
Described is a method to fabricate gold/mesoporous silica hybrid nanoparticles. This formulation is a photothermal stable theranostic platform that could be useful in disease detection, treatment and monitoring.
Pharma
US- 10940119- Nano-encapsulation using GRAS materials and applications thereof
Description of method to generate nanoparticles from zein by a solvent exchange/precipitation technique. Zein is a protein isolated from corn and is considered a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) material.
US- 10945966- PEGylated lipid nanoparticle with bioactive lipophilic compound
Description of method to generate nanoparticles made up of a water-soluble polymer (Such as PEG) and at least one of a biocompatible lipid and lipophilic agent. The invention specifically describes this formulation used in ophthalmic treatments.
US- 10954348- Biocompatible nanoparticle and use thereof
Description of a nanoparticle formulation made by irradiating an aqueous solution of a polysaccharide, a derivative thereof, and a PEG molecule using an electron beam to induce intra- and inter-molecular crosslinking. Applications listed include drug carrier, contrast agent, diagnostic agent, and intestinal adhesion prevention agent for disease prevention and treatment.
US- 10966955- Ocular drug delivery system and uses thereof
Description of a hydrogel formulation comprised of a set of nanoparticles. One nanoparticle type is thiolated hyaluronic acid encapsulating a wound-healing drug. The formulation also includes a hydrolysable liposome encapsulating an anti-inflammatory drug. A third nanoparticle of thiolated hyaluronic acid encapsulating a growth factor inhibitor is included in the formulation. The nanoparticles are held in the hydrogel matrix by electrostatic interactions.
US- 10967346- Microspheres and method for producing them
A method to generate microspheres/sub-micron particles using a melted carrier with payload that are dispensed as droplets that fall onto a cooled superoleophobic surface resulting in solidification of the carrier and encapsulation of the payload.
US- 10973773- Dactinomycin compositions and methods for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia
Description of a formulation for the delivery of dactinomycin in nanoparticles for the treatment of various myeloid diseases/cancers.
US- 10980902- Bi-DOTA complex-loaded dendritic polymer nanoparticles
Description of a dendrimer-based nanoparticle that could be conjugated with a targeting ligand, loaded with a therapeutic, and/or conjugated with an imaging compound. The interior of the nanoparticle is hydrophobic. Cancer applications are described within.
US- 10994013- Solid dosage form containing arabinogalactan
Micro- and nanoparticle formulations made up of an arabinogalactan matrix are described within.
US-11000042- Continuous methods for treating liquids and manufacturing certain constituents (e.g., nanoparticles) in liquids, apparatuses and nanoparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) resulting therefrom
A description of novel continuous methods to generate micro- and nanoparticles. The particles are generated in liquid exposed to a plasma energy source presumably causing polymerization or solidification to occur resulting in particle formation.
US-11000479- Injectable long-acting naltrexone microparticle compositions
Description of a biodegradable microparticle delivery system containing naltrexone for disease treatment.
US-11000482- Fabrication of a suramin-loaded nanoparticle and its application
A proposed treatment for metastatic cancer using nanoparticles is provided here. The formulation is made of polysuphonated napthylurea nanoparticles that contain a chemotherapeutic agent and a biodegradable matrix such as proteins, polysaccharide, peptides or derivatives thereof. The polymer matrix can include sumarin and the chemotherapeutic agent anthracycline.
US-11001840- Biodegradable and clinically-compatible nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers
Description of the use of magnesium salts (specifically magnesium phosphate) used in nanoparticles to deliver aiRNA and/or siRNA.
US-11007147- Hydrogel toxin-absorbing or binding nanoparticles
Description of a hydrogel containing toxin-absorbing nanoparticles. Toxins described are from biological sources such as bacterial, viral, fungal, plant or animals.
US-11007161- Ibuprofen nanoparticle carriers encapsulated with hermatic surfactant films
Description of a topical delivery system using a dispersion of nanoparticles in a carrier containing surfactants, and lipids.
US-11013692- Method of drug formulation based on increasing the affinity of crystalline microparticle surfaces for active agents
A method used to coat crystalline microparticles with an active by modulating the surface properties (such as electrostatic, hydrophobic or hydrogen properties) of the crystals to enhance adherence.
US-11013807- Stable fat-soluble active ingredient composition, microcapsule and process of preparation and use thereof
Description of a fat-soluble ingredient formulation in a microcapsule. The fat-soluble ingredients include tocopherol, vitamin C palmitate, and a fat-soluble active ingredient. This results in a novel antioxidant composition to enhance stability of the active ingredient.
US-11013817- Nanoparticles for drug delivery to treat bone disease
Description of a nanoparticle formulation encapsulating or conjugated to a RANKL inhibitor for treatment of cancer in bone.
Bio
US-10975350- Cell culture substrate and method of making thereof
Description of the use of amine-functionalized acrylamide polymer nanoparticle that is then coated onto a cell culture substrate to enhance growth of stem cells.
US-10993888- Fluorescent nanoparticle compositions for dental bonded restorations
Description of fluorescent nanoparticles used for dental bonded restorations.
US-11015220- Conjugates of biomolecules to nanoparticles
Description of various applications for biomolecules conjugated to nanoparticles. Specifically, polymerase-nanoparticle conjugates are described as exhibiting reduced aggregation and improved stoichiometry to enhance primer extension and single molecule sequencing methods.
Consumer Products/ Cosmetics
US-10952938- Silica-including microcapsule resin particles, method for producing same, and application thereof
Description of microcapsules with a shell of crosslinked polymer surrounding a porous silica core/cavity. Uses such as cosmetics, paints and coatings, phase transition materials/heat insulation, and light diffusion are described within.
US-10980262- Barrier layer capsules
Description of technology with application in delayed release of flavors in foods and beverages comprising a microcapsule with an active in the core or on an inner core material. The outer shell of the microcapsule is a polymeric material with solubility in water. Between the active core and the outer water-soluble shell is a hydrophobic barrier layer that delays the release of the more hydrophilic active ingredient in the core.
