How Special Nanoparticles Deliver Cancer Drugs Directly to Tumors
This patent describes tiny fat-based particles, called lipid nanoparticles, designed to carry cancer drugs directly to tumor cells using a special protein (ApoE3) on their surface, avoiding a common, potentially problematic ingredient.
Original patent title: “Apo-e modified lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery to targeted tissues and therapeutic methods”
This patent describes tiny fat-based particles, called lipid nanoparticles, designed to carry cancer drugs directly to tumor cells using a special protein (ApoE3) on their surface, avoiding a common, potentially problematic ingredient. Owned by Eriochem Usa with 46 claims and 8 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a tiny, engineered package called a lipid nanoparticle for delivering therapeutic agents. This nanoparticle has a core made of fats like cholesterol ester and triglycerides (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 4), surrounded by a phospholipid layer. A key feature is the human recombinant ApoE3 protein bonded to its surface (Claim 1), which acts like a guide to target specific cells. Importantly, this ApoE3 bonding happens without using Polysorbate 80 (Claim 1), an ingredient sometimes associated with adverse reactions. The nanoparticle is precisely sized (between 20 and 150 nm) and has specific electrical and uniformity properties (Claim 1). For example, it can carry an anticancer drug like Docetaxel (Claim 10) and deliver it more effectively to cancer cells, showing a lower IC50 and higher selectivity compared to the drug's original formulation (Claim 10, 11).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Lipid nanoparticles that use Polysorbate 80 to bond ApoE3 to their surface (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Nanoparticles outside the specified size range of 20 to 150 nanometers (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Nanoparticles with a Z-potential outside the range of -25 to -5 millivolts (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Nanoparticles with a PDI dispersion value outside the range of 0.08 to 0.30 (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Drug delivery systems that do not incorporate human recombinant ApoE3 as the apolipoprotein component (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Nanoparticles where the therapeutic agent is not dissolved within the lipid core (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 7).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever aspect is the precise engineering of a lipid nanoparticle that incorporates human recombinant ApoE3 on its surface for targeted delivery, specifically ensuring this attachment occurs without the use of Polysorbate 80. This combination aims to enhance drug efficacy and reduce formulation-related side effects.
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
Targeted chemotherapy formulations for various cancers
Improved drug delivery systems for potent anticancer drugs
Nanoparticle-based therapies designed to cross biological barriers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Targeted drug delivery is a critical area in medicine, especially for cancer treatment, as it aims to increase drug effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects on healthy tissues. This patent offers a method to improve the delivery of potent drugs like Docetaxel by making them more selective for cancer cells. The specific exclusion of Polysorbate 80 addresses a known formulation challenge, potentially leading to safer and more effective drug products.
Filed
September 28, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Eriochem USA LLC, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively working in this space. Beyond the original assignee, pharmaceutical companies and biotech startups focused on oncology and advanced drug delivery systems are continuously developing similar technologies. This includes firms exploring nanoparticle-based drug carriers for various therapeutic areas, aiming for improved targeting and reduced toxicity.
Market impact
This technology contributes to the ongoing evolution of drug delivery, particularly in the oncology market. By offering a formulation that potentially improves drug targeting and avoids a common excipient like Polysorbate 80, it could enable the development of new or enhanced versions of existing drugs. This could lead to better patient outcomes, potentially opening new market segments for more precise and safer therapeutic options, and influencing formulation standards for complex drugs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a tiny, engineered package called a lipid nanoparticle for delivering therapeutic agents. This nanoparticle has a core made of fats like cholesterol ester and triglycerides (Claim 1, 4), surrounded by a phospholipid layer. A key feature is the human recombinant ApoE3 protein bonded to its surface (Claim 1), which acts like a guide to target specific cells. Importantly, this ApoE3 bonding happens without using Polysorbate 80 (Claim 1), an ingredient sometimes associated with adverse reactions. The nanoparticle is precisely sized (between 20 and 150 nm) and has specific electrical and uniformity properties (Claim 1). For example, it can carry an anticancer drug like Docetaxel (Claim 10) and deliver it more effectively to cancer cells, showing a lower IC50 and higher selectivity compared to the drug's original formulation (Claim 10, 11).
The clever bit
The clever aspect is the precise engineering of a lipid nanoparticle that incorporates human recombinant ApoE3 on its surface for targeted delivery, specifically ensuring this attachment occurs without the use of Polysorbate 80. This combination aims to enhance drug efficacy and reduce formulation-related side effects.
What it does not cover
- Lipid nanoparticles that use Polysorbate 80 to bond ApoE3 to their surface (Claim 1).
- Nanoparticles outside the specified size range of 20 to 150 nanometers (Claim 1).
- Nanoparticles with a Z-potential outside the range of -25 to -5 millivolts (Claim 1).
- Nanoparticles with a PDI dispersion value outside the range of 0.08 to 0.30 (Claim 1).
- Drug delivery systems that do not incorporate human recombinant ApoE3 as the apolipoprotein component (Claim 1).
- Nanoparticles where the therapeutic agent is not dissolved within the lipid core (Claim 7).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
19/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
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
$192K – $614K
Midpoint $384K · 11.0 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
46 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nunez, J. L., SELENSCIG, D., & RAMIREZ, M. D. L. A. How Special Nanoparticles Deliver Cancer Drugs Directly to Tumors (U.S. Patent No. 20,190,046,446). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20190046446/apo-e-modified-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery-to-targeted-tissues-and-the
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 Special Nanoparticles Deliver Cancer Drugs Directly to Tumors cover?
This patent describes tiny fat-based particles, called lipid nanoparticles, designed to carry cancer drugs directly to tumor cells using a special protein (ApoE3) on their surface, avoiding a common, potentially problematic ingredient.
Who owns patent US 20190046446?
This patent is owned by Eriochem Usa.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 28, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20190046446 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Targeted drug delivery is a critical area in medicine, especially for cancer treatment, as it aims to increase drug effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects on healthy tissues. This patent offers a method to improve the delivery of potent drugs like Docetaxel by making them more selective for cancer cells. The specific exclusion of Polysorbate 80 addresses a known formulation challenge, potentially leading to safer and more effective drug products.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Lipid nanoparticles that use Polysorbate 80 to bond ApoE3 to their surface (Claim 1).
Patent monitoring