Tiny Bubbles for Delivering Medicine
This patent describes tiny, bubble-like structures made of fats that can carry medicine, like genetic material, and release it effectively inside the body by changing their structure in slightly acidic environments.
Original patent title: “Compositions and methods of the delivery of active agents including nucleic acids”
This patent describes tiny, bubble-like structures made of fats that can carry medicine, like genetic material, and release it effectively inside the body by changing their structure in slightly acidic environments. Owned by Ohio State Innovation Foundation with 32 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent is about special tiny bubbles, called nanoemulsions, designed to carry active substances, such as nucleic acids (like mRNA or DNA), into the body. These nanoemulsions are made of specific types of fats: ionizable lipids that can change their charge, neutral lipids for structure, and PEGylated lipids to help them last longer. A key feature is that these compositions are buffered to be slightly acidic, specifically between a pH of 5.0 and 6.5. This acidic environment helps the nanoemulsion release its cargo more efficiently once it reaches its target, improving how well the medicine works. For example, a nanoemulsion containing mRNA for a vaccine could be designed to release the mRNA more effectively in the slightly acidic environment found within certain cellular compartments.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Nanoemulsions that are not buffered to a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
- Compositions that do not contain ionizable lipids, neutral lipids, and PEGylated lipids.
- Delivery systems that do not encapsulate an active agent.
- Nanoemulsions that are buffered to a neutral or basic pH (e.g., pH 7 or higher).
- Delivery systems that do not include fusogenic oils, if the specific claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → omitting them are considered.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in precisely controlling the pH of the nanoemulsion formulation itself, buffering it to a slightly acidic range (5.0-6.5) to pre-condition the lipid particle for enhanced payload release at the target site, rather than relying solely on the target site's natural pH.
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
mRNA vaccine delivery systems
Gene therapy vectors
Lipid nanoparticle drug carriers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is relevant to the development of new drug delivery systems, particularly for fragile molecules like nucleic acids used in gene therapies and mRNA vaccines. Efficient delivery is crucial for these advanced medicines to work effectively and safely. The specific formulation and pH sensitivity described could offer advantages in therapeutic outcomes.
Filed
October 24, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Ohio State Innovation Foundation is the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, suggesting academic research leading to potential commercialization. Companies involved in mRNA therapeutics and gene editing, such as Moderna, BioNTech, and various gene therapy startups, are active in developing similar lipid nanoparticle delivery technologies.
Market impact
The development of effective lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, like those described, has been critical for the success of mRNA vaccines and is foundational for many emerging gene therapies. Patents in this area define key aspects of formulation and manufacturing, influencing market entry and competition for companies developing nucleic acid-based medicines.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent is about special tiny bubbles, called nanoemulsions, designed to carry active substances, such as nucleic acids (like mRNA or DNA), into the body. These nanoemulsions are made of specific types of fats: ionizable lipids that can change their charge, neutral lipids for structure, and PEGylated lipids to help them last longer. A key feature is that these compositions are buffered to be slightly acidic, specifically between a pH of 5.0 and 6.5. This acidic environment helps the nanoemulsion release its cargo more efficiently once it reaches its target, improving how well the medicine works. For example, a nanoemulsion containing mRNA for a vaccine could be designed to release the mRNA more effectively in the slightly acidic environment found within certain cellular compartments.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in precisely controlling the pH of the nanoemulsion formulation itself, buffering it to a slightly acidic range (5.0-6.5) to pre-condition the lipid particle for enhanced payload release at the target site, rather than relying solely on the target site's natural pH.
What it does not cover
- Nanoemulsions that are not buffered to a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
- Compositions that do not contain ionizable lipids, neutral lipids, and PEGylated lipids.
- Delivery systems that do not encapsulate an active agent.
- Nanoemulsions that are buffered to a neutral or basic pH (e.g., pH 7 or higher).
- Delivery systems that do not include fusogenic oils, if the specific claims omitting them are considered.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
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
$72K – $230K
Midpoint $144K · 16.0 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
32 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Zhang, Z., KUO, C., & Lee, R. J. Tiny Bubbles for Delivering Medicine (U.S. Patent No. 20,250,235,403). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20250235403/compositions-and-methods-of-the-delivery-of-active-agents-including-nucleic-acid
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 Tiny Bubbles for Delivering Medicine cover?
This patent describes tiny, bubble-like structures made of fats that can carry medicine, like genetic material, and release it effectively inside the body by changing their structure in slightly acidic environments.
Who owns patent US 20250235403?
This patent is owned by Ohio State Innovation Foundation.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 24, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is relevant to the development of new drug delivery systems, particularly for fragile molecules like nucleic acids used in gene therapies and mRNA vaccines. Efficient delivery is crucial for these advanced medicines to work effectively and safely. The specific formulation and pH sensitivity described could offer advantages in therapeutic outcomes.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Nanoemulsions that are not buffered to a pH between 5.0 and 6.5.
Patent monitoring