{
  "patent_number": "US 10155945",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines",
  "original_title": "Method of producing lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery",
  "summary": "A precise method for creating small, stable lipid bubbles that safely carry genetic material like siRNA into cells for medical treatment.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-02-10",
  "granted": "2018-12-18",
  "expires": "2037-02-10",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Nitto Denko Corp",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/nitto-denko-corp",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Richard P. Witte",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/richard-p-witte"
    },
    {
      "name": "Priya Karmali",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/priya-karmali"
    },
    {
      "name": "Violetta Akopian",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/violetta-akopian"
    },
    {
      "name": "Victor Knopov",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/victor-knopov"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robin Lee",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/robin-lee"
    },
    {
      "name": "David Webb",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/david-webb"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 10,
  "tags": [
    "biotech",
    "pharmaceutical"
  ],
  "abstract": "What is described is a method for preparing a liposome that efficiently encapsulates a negatively charged therapeutic polymer, e.g., siRNA. The process involves preparing a lipid mixture comprising a cationic lipid in a water miscible organic solvent, such as ethanol, at a concentration of 2.3 mg/ml, and adding this solution to the polymer dissolved in water to a final concentration of 35% ethanol in water. The final charge ratio of drug:lipid is 1:2.5. The resulting nanoparticles have a mean size of 50 to 150 nm.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10155945/method-of-producing-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10155945/method-of-producing-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10155945",
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}