US 12,016,948 B2
Micromotors and nanomotors for gastrointestinal diagnosis and treatment applications
Joseph Wang, San Diego, CA (US); and Liangfang Zhang, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Appl. No. 16/475,894
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 5, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/012678
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 3, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/129390, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/505,812, filed on May 12, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/443,516, filed on Jan. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0343758 A1, Nov. 14, 2019
Int. Cl. A61K 9/46 (2006.01); A61K 9/00 (2006.01); A61K 9/20 (2006.01); A61K 9/48 (2006.01); A61K 9/50 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61K 9/0007 (2013.01) [A61K 9/0053 (2013.01); A61K 9/2009 (2013.01); A61K 9/2027 (2013.01); A61K 9/204 (2013.01); A61K 9/205 (2013.01); A61K 9/2086 (2013.01); A61K 9/4808 (2013.01); A61K 9/4866 (2013.01); A61K 9/501 (2013.01); A61K 9/5026 (2013.01); A61K 9/5031 (2013.01); A61K 9/5036 (2013.01); A61B 5/4222 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
 
1. A micromotor for a gastrointestinal tract, comprising:
a micromotor body including a one or more material layers to provide a structure that surrounds a hollow interior region and has an opening to an exterior of the micromotor body, wherein a first portion of a payload is contained in the hollow interior region;
one or more particles comprising a biocompatible metal element, the one or more particles contained in the hollow interior region of the micromotor body; and
a pH sensitive coating coupled to an exterior of the micromotor body, wherein the pH sensitive coating encapsulates a second portion of the payload,
wherein:
the payload comprises clarithromycin,
the one or more particles includes one or more magnesium particles, and
the micromotor body includes gold, and the pH sensitive coating includes a polymer comprising an enteric anionic copolymer including methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate, or
the micromotor body includes titanium oxide (TiO2), and the pH sensitive coating includes an enteric copolymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA),
wherein the micromotor is structured to move in a fluid medium of a gastrointestinal system based on a reaction between the one or more particles and a constituent or a condition of the fluid medium, wherein the reaction generates bubbles that accelerate out of the opening of the micromotor body to propel the micromotor in the fluid medium, the propelled micromotor releasing the first portion of the payload contained in the hollow interior region, and wherein the reaction causes, via a change in pH, a release of the second portion of the payload from the pH sensitive coating.