How to Build Tiny Lipid Carriers for Delivering Nutrients
A method for creating tiny, 20-60 nanometer lipid-based particles designed to carry vitamins and nutrients into the human body more effectively.
Original patent title: “Nanoparticle compositions and methods as carriers of nutraceutical factors across cell membranes and biological barriers”
A method for creating tiny, 20-60 nanometer lipid-based particles designed to carry vitamins and nutrients into the human body more effectively. Granted to Nanosphere Health Sciences in 2018 with 6 claims and 10 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2034.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a specific manufacturing process to create lipid structural nanoparticles, which act as tiny delivery vehicles. The method requires combining essential phospholipids and fatty acids using at least three distinct production techniques, such as high-pressure homogenization and ultrasonication. By using these specific combinations, the process creates particles between 20 and 60 nanometers in size. These particles are then loaded with nutraceuticals or vitamins to help them cross biological barriers in mammals.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover delivery systems larger than 60 nanometers.
- Does not cover methods using fewer than three of the listed production techniques.
- Does not cover the chemical composition of the nutraceuticals themselves, only the carrier system.
- Does not cover non-lipid based nanoparticle delivery vehicles.
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 the mandatory use of a triple-process manufacturing sequence, which ensures the resulting lipid particles are consistently small enough (20-60nm) to effectively penetrate biological membranes.
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
Liposomal vitamin C supplements
Nano-encapsulated nutraceutical powders
Enhanced absorption dietary supplements
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Improving the bioavailability of nutrients is a major goal in the health and wellness industry. By creating a standardized way to package supplements into tiny lipid spheres, this technology aims to ensure that vitamins and other compounds are better absorbed by the body rather than being broken down prematurely.
Filed
October 14, 2014
Granted
March 27, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Nanosphere Health Sciences, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, has focused on applying this technology to various supplement delivery platforms. Other companies in the liposomal delivery space continue to refine these manufacturing techniques to improve the stability and absorption rates of oral supplements.
Market impact
This patent provides a specific technical framework for manufacturers of high-end nutraceuticals to claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → improved delivery performance. It helps differentiate premium supplement products that utilize advanced nanotechnology from standard, less bioavailable formulations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a specific manufacturing process to create lipid structural nanoparticles, which act as tiny delivery vehicles. The method requires combining essential phospholipids and fatty acids using at least three distinct production techniques, such as high-pressure homogenization and ultrasonication. By using these specific combinations, the process creates particles between 20 and 60 nanometers in size. These particles are then loaded with nutraceuticals or vitamins to help them cross biological barriers in mammals.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the mandatory use of a triple-process manufacturing sequence, which ensures the resulting lipid particles are consistently small enough (20-60nm) to effectively penetrate biological membranes.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover delivery systems larger than 60 nanometers.
- Does not cover methods using fewer than three of the listed production techniques.
- Does not cover the chemical composition of the nutraceuticals themselves, only the carrier system.
- Does not cover non-lipid based nanoparticle delivery vehicles.
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
Early stage
Citation count
21/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
4/20
Moderate scope
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
$144K – $461K
Midpoint $288K · 8.3 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
6 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kaufman, R. C. (2018). How to Build Tiny Lipid Carriers for Delivering Nutrients (U.S. Patent No. 9,925,149). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9925149/nanoparticle-compositions-and-methods-as-carriers-of-nutraceutical-factors-acros
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 Carriers for Delivering Nutrients cover?
A method for creating tiny, 20-60 nanometer lipid-based particles designed to carry vitamins and nutrients into the human body more effectively.
Who owns patent US 9925149?
Nanosphere Health Sciences owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 14, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9925149 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 10 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Improving the bioavailability of nutrients is a major goal in the health and wellness industry. By creating a standardized way to package supplements into tiny lipid spheres, this technology aims to ensure that vitamins and other compounds are better absorbed by the body rather than being broken down prematurely.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover delivery systems larger than 60 nanometers.
Patent monitoring