Challenges for the Future!! Part 3: Wanting to be Kinder to People with Asthma #03] ── Why Does 'Liposomalization' Change Asthma Treatment? Core Technology Enabling Mask-Type Treatment -

In asthma treatment, the currently widely used inhalers have supported the symptoms of many patients. On the other hand, there are challenges due to their mechanism.

■ Fundamental Challenges with Inhalers

Many inhalers are absorbed very quickly from the lungs.
While this is a major advantage in terms of immediate effect, on the other hand, there are also challenges such as:
• Short duration of effect
• Need for multiple inhalations per day
• Increased risk of systemic side effects as the dosage increases

Here, a new approach to treatment was needed.
■ What is Liposomalization?


Liposomes are microscopic capsules made of lipid bilayers that can encapsulate drugs inside.

Because their structure is similar to biological membranes, they have high biocompatibility and are a technology that has been studied for a long time in the medical field.
Applying this liposomalization technology to asthma treatment opens up the following possibilities.

■ Four Effects Brought by Liposomalization


① Sustained-release effect (improvement in persistence)

By wrapping the drug in liposomes, the release rate within the lung tissue can be controlled.
This is expected to allow the effect to last slowly and for a long time, reducing the burden of frequent administration.
② Improvement in local treatment effect

Depending on the design, liposomes can be made to stay near the airways and alveoli where inflammation is occurring.

This enables 'local intensive treatment' that delivers the necessary amount to the necessary place.
③ Reduction of systemic side effects

By minimizing the amount of drug that migrates into the blood, it is expected to reduce the risk of systemic side effects associated with long-term use, such as:

• Adrenocortical suppression
• Decreased bone density
• Cataracts
④ Application to intractable diseases
Because it can approach areas where drugs were previously difficult to reach, it holds the potential to become a new treatment option for intractable asthma and severe cases.

■ Current Status of Liposomal Inhalers

The application of liposome technology to inhalers is currently still in the research stage.


However, although products widely used in general clinical practice as inhaled steroids are still limited, there are examples already in clinical use in other areas, and the technical foundation is steadily growing and being prepared.

■ Why a 'Mask Shape'? - The Idea of Drug Fixation
The key to this concept is the fixation of liposomalized drugs to a mask.


The mask we focused on is the 'breath mask' used in recent years for running and walking.

Characteristics of Breath Masks

• Easy breathing due to high breathability
• Excellent sweat absorption and quick-drying properties, allowing moisture to escape
• Fits the face and has little burden even when worn for a long time
• Many have antibacterial, deodorizing, and UV-cut functions
• Designed with a three-dimensional structure to create space around the mouth
Then, using the electrostatic filter that is the material of this breath mask, the liposome components are stably fixed to the surface of the mask's electrostatic filter.
■ How Does the Drug Reach the Affected Area?

When the patient breathes, due to the suction force naturally generated:


1. The liposome components fixed to the mask detach along with the inhaled air

2. The liposome components reach the airways and lungs along with the inhaled air
3. CO₂ (carbon dioxide) in the airways and lungs reacts with the liposome components
4. The liposome membrane collapses, and the drug encapsulated inside is released
5. The released drug acts on the affected area of the airways and lungs
We are assuming this flow.
※ CO₂-responsive liposomes are a field where basic research is already underway, and the possibility of practical application is high

■ Timing of Mask Replacement

We monitor the reduction amount of the liposome components fixed to the mask and set an appropriate replacement timing based on the usage period calculated from that data.

By setting this replacement timing period, we can prevent:
• Loss of drug effect due to overuse (wearing too much)
• Cessation of drug effect due to discontinuation of use based on self-judgment

■ What Mask-Type Liposomal Inhalation Treatment Technology Aims For


This mask-type liposomal inhalation treatment is a paradigm shift from 'using medicine voluntarily' to 'natural breathing itself becoming treatment'.

With this new treatment method, people living with asthma will be able to live a life where they are naturally protected in their daily lives without being conscious of treatment.
It is one technical dream toward that future.

Surely, to make that dream come true...

And, that I was kept alive by heaven...