Controlled release of molecular components of dendrimer/bioactive complexes

• US 5,795,581 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Wallace, J. Shield, Segalman, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Neil S.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 424/DIG. 16, 424/449, 424/405, 424/422, 424/438, 424/439, 424/450, 424/484-489
• US Class Current: 424/400
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0028 Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 424/16 Dendrimers and dendritic polymers

Abstract

A method for releasing molecules (guest molecules) from the matrix formed by the structure of another molecule (host molecule) in a controllable manner has been invented. This method has many applications in science and industry. In addition, applications based on such molecular systems may revolutionize significant areas of medicine, in particular the treatment of cancer and of viral infection. Similar effects can also be obtained by controlled fragmentation of a source molecule, where the molecular fragments form the active principle.

Claims

1. A process for release of guest molecules initially confined by physical entrapment in dendrimer host molecules, comprising fragmenting the host molecules by exposing them to electromagnetic radiation and producing a product comprising freed guest molecules and host molecule fragments.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises photons having sufficient energy to trigger a bond-breaking reaction within the host molecules, leading to non-thermally fragmenting the host molecules.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising a chemical reaction between the freed guest molecules and the host molecule fragments.

4. A dendrimer host molecule, comprising at least one chemical structure capable of confining a guest molecule by physical entrapment, which host molecule is convertible to molecular fragments by the action of electromagnetic radiation thereon, at least one of said at least one chemical structure being thereby rendered incapable of confining a guest molecule.

5. The host molecule of claim 4, further comprising at least one confined guest molecule.

6. The host molecule of claim 5, wherein some of the at least one confined guest molecule exhibit a desired active property.

7. The host molecule of claim 6, wherein the desired active property is pharmacological activity.

8. The host molecule of claim 7, wherein the desired active property is anticancer activity.

9. The host molecule of claim 7, wherein the desired active property is antibiotic activity.

10. The host molecule of claim 7, wherein the desired active property is antiviral activity.

11. The host molecule of claim 6, wherein the desired active property is herbicidal activity.

12. The host molecule of claim 6, wherein the desired active property is pesticidal activity.