# 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. - **Patent:** US 10155945 - **Original title:** Method of producing lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery - **Owner:** Nitto Denko Corp - **Granted:** 2018 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 10 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. siRNA drug delivery systems 2. mRNA-based therapeutic formulations 3. Targeted gene therapy carriers ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10155945/method-of-producing-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10155945 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220304938/lipid-nanoparticle-compositions-and-methods-as-carriers-of-cannabinoids-in-stand) — This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses. - [How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4235871/hepatitis-b-vaccine-recombivax) — This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured. - [Using Yeast Cell Walls to Deliver Genetic Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8580275/car-t-cell-therapy) — A method for using hollowed-out yeast cell walls as tiny transport containers to deliver genetic payloads like DNA or RNA into cells. - [Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12350368/delivery-of-large-payloads) — This patent describes a sophisticated delivery system that combines parts of a virus with a fat bubble (liposome) to efficiently transport large molecules, like CRISPR gene-editing components, into specific cells. - [How Modified RNA Tricks Cells Into Making Proteins Without Triggering Attacks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8278036/rna-containing-modified-nucleosides-and-methods-of-use-thereof) — A breakthrough method for using modified RNA to deliver instructions to cells without causing the body to reject the treatment as a foreign invader.