How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines
A precise method for creating small, stable lipid bubbles that safely carry genetic material like siRNA into cells for medical treatment.
Original patent title: “Method of producing lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery”
A precise method for creating small, stable lipid bubbles that safely carry genetic material like siRNA into cells for medical treatment. Granted to Nitto Denko Corp in 2018 with 24 claims and 10 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a batch-processing method for creating lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that act as microscopic delivery vehicles for genetic drugs. The process involves mixing an organic solvent containing specific lipids—including cationic lipids, helper lipids, and PEG lipids—with an aqueous solution containing the therapeutic nucleic acid. By carefully controlling the injection, dilution, and solvent removal steps, the method ensures the resulting particles are uniform in size (50-150 nm) and stable. This is critical because if the particles are too large or clump together, they cannot effectively enter cells to deliver their genetic payload.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover continuous-flow manufacturing processes, as the claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → specifically requires batchwise production.
- Does not cover the synthesis of the specific lipid molecules themselves, only the method of assembling them into nanoparticles.
- Does not cover non-lipid delivery vehicles, such as viral vectors or polymer-only nanoparticles.
- Does not cover particles that fall outside the specified 50 to 150 nm size range or those with a polydispersity index of 0.2 or higher.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The process uses a specific sequence of solvent dilution and stirring to prevent the lipids from aggregating, ensuring the final particles remain small and uniform without needing complex microfluidic hardware.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
siRNA drug delivery systems
mRNA-based therapeutic formulations
Targeted gene therapy carriers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Lipid nanoparticles are the backbone of modern mRNA and siRNA therapies. This patent provides a specific recipe for ensuring these particles are consistent and stable, which is a major hurdle in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Reliable production methods are essential for moving genetic medicines from the lab to large-scale clinical use.
Filed
February 10, 2017
Granted
December 18, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Nitto Denko continues to explore advanced drug delivery systems. The broader field of LNP manufacturing is heavily populated by companies like Arbutus Biopharma, Acuitas Therapeutics, and major pharmaceutical firms that utilize these encapsulation techniques for RNA-based medicines.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the standardized manufacturing protocols required for the rapidly growing field of nucleic acid therapeutics. By defining clear parameters for LNP size and stability, it helps manufacturers reduce variability in drug product quality, which is a prerequisite for regulatory approval of new genetic medicines.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a batch-processing method for creating lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that act as microscopic delivery vehicles for genetic drugs. The process involves mixing an organic solvent containing specific lipids—including cationic lipids, helper lipids, and PEG lipids—with an aqueous solution containing the therapeutic nucleic acid. By carefully controlling the injection, dilution, and solvent removal steps, the method ensures the resulting particles are uniform in size (50-150 nm) and stable. This is critical because if the particles are too large or clump together, they cannot effectively enter cells to deliver their genetic payload.
The clever bit
The process uses a specific sequence of solvent dilution and stirring to prevent the lipids from aggregating, ensuring the final particles remain small and uniform without needing complex microfluidic hardware.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover continuous-flow manufacturing processes, as the claim specifically requires batchwise production.
- Does not cover the synthesis of the specific lipid molecules themselves, only the method of assembling them into nanoparticles.
- Does not cover non-lipid delivery vehicles, such as viral vectors or polymer-only nanoparticles.
- Does not cover particles that fall outside the specified 50 to 150 nm size range or those with a polydispersity index of 0.2 or higher.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
21/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
16/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$234K – $749K
Midpoint $468K · 10.6 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
24 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Witte, R. P., Karmali, P., Akopian, V., Knopov, V., Lee, R., & Webb, D. (2018). How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines (U.S. Patent No. 10,155,945). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10155945/method-of-producing-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines cover?
A precise method for creating small, stable lipid bubbles that safely carry genetic material like siRNA into cells for medical treatment.
Who owns patent US 10155945?
Nitto Denko Corp owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 10, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10155945 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 10 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Lipid nanoparticles are the backbone of modern mRNA and siRNA therapies. This patent provides a specific recipe for ensuring these particles are consistent and stable, which is a major hurdle in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Reliable production methods are essential for moving genetic medicines from the lab to large-scale clinical use.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover continuous-flow manufacturing processes, as the claim specifically requires batchwise production.
Patent monitoring