Monitoring the developmental trend and competitive landscape of natural gas hydrate through patent analysis.

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is a significant alternative energy resource in achieving carbon neutrality. The developmental trend and competitive landscape of NGH exploitation and production are crucial for policymakers in government, managers of enterprises, and researchers. This study introduces a novel framework for conducting an in-depth analysis of NGH, integrating patentometrics, technology evolution, and correlation relationships to monitor developmental trends and competitive landscape through patent analysis. The results indicate that China, the USA, and Japan have distinct technology advantages. Current technological developments in the NGH field focus primarily on extraction technologies, equipment, and processing systems. The co-opetition analysis among countries reveals that the most extensive international cooperation network is primarily in Europe and the USA, with national partnerships in Asia concentrated in China and Japan. Institutional cooperation remains limited, primarily within universities in China, while both the USA and Japan foster collaboration between enterprises. The competitive landscapes of key NGH-related technologies among countries and institutions are also examined. This study contributes not only to monitoring the developmental trend and competitive landscape in NGH but also to providing policy recommendations for government and enterprises regarding strategic management and collaborative innovation.

A Patent Analysis on Nano Drug Delivery Systems.

BACKGROUND: A nano drug delivery system is an effective tool for drug delivery and controlled release, which is used for a variety of medical applications. In recent decades, nano drug delivery systems have been significantly developed with the emergence of new nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to provide insight into the technological development of nano drug delivery systems through patent analysis. METHODS: 3708 patent documents were used for patent analysis after retrieval from the Incopat patent database. RESULTS: The number of patents on nano drug delivery systems has shown a rapid growth trend in the past two decades. At present, China and the United States have obvious contributions to the number of patents. According to the patent data, the nanomaterials used in nano drug delivery system are mainly inorganic nanomaterials, lipid-based nanomaterials, and macromolecules. In recent years, the highly cited patents (≥14) for nano drug delivery systems mainly involve lipid-based nanomaterials, indicating that their technology is mature and widely used. The inorganic nanomaterials in drug delivery have received increasing attention, and the number of related patents has increased significantly after 2016. The number of highly cited patents in the United States is 250, which is much higher than in other countries. CONCLUSION: Even after decades of development, nano drug delivery systems remain a hot topic for researchers. The significant increase in patents since 2016 can be attributed to the large number of new patents from China. However, according to the proportion of highly cited patents in total, China's patented technologies in nano drug delivery systems are not advanced enough compared to developed countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, and France. In the future, research on emerging nanomaterials for nano drug delivery systems, such as inorganic nanomaterials, may focus on developing new materials and optimising their properties. The lipid-based and polymer- based nanomaterials can be continuously improved for the development of new nanomedicines.

Skin-on-a-chip technologies towards clinical translation and commercialization.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body which plays a critical role in thermoregulation, metabolism (e.g. synthesis of vitamin D), and protection of other organs from environmental threats, such as infections, microorganisms, ultraviolet radiation, and physical damage. Even though skin diseases are considered to be less fatal, the ubiquity of skin diseases and irritation caused by them highlights the importance of skin studies. Furthermore, skin is a promising means for transdermal drug delivery, which requires a thorough understanding of human skin structure. Current animal andin vitrotwo/three-dimensional skin models provide a platform for disease studies and drug testing, whereas they face challenges in the complete recapitulation of the dynamic and complex structure of actual skin tissue. One of the most effective methods for testing pharmaceuticals and modeling skin diseases are skin-on-a-chip (SoC) platforms. SoC technologies provide a non-invasive approach for examining 3D skin layers and artificially creating disease models in order to develop diagnostic or therapeutic methods. In addition, SoC models enable dynamic perfusion of culture medium with nutrients and facilitate the continuous removal of cellular waste to further mimic thein vivocondition. Here, the article reviews the most recent advances in the design and applications of SoC platforms for disease modeling as well as the analysis of drugs and cosmetics. By examining the contributions of different patents to the physiological relevance of skin models, the review underscores the significant shift towards more ethical and efficient alternatives to animal testing. Furthermore, it explores the market dynamics ofin vitroskin models and organ-on-a-chip platforms, discussing the impact of legislative changes and market demand on the development and adoption of these advanced research tools. This article also identifies the existing obstacles that hinder the advancement of SoC platforms, proposing directions for future improvements, particularly focusing on the journey towards clinical adoption.

Research on Chinese medicinal materials cultivation: A bibliometric and visual analysis.

Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs) are important strategic resource in China. The cultivation process of medicinal plants is the key link which directly affect the quality and efficacy. The literatures of CMMs cultivation were acquired from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database and State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) patent database for the years between 2001 and 2021. All the articles found were subjected to bibliometric analysis. The development trends and key topics were analyzed and visualized by VOSviewer and CiteSpace software. The results indicate that ecological planting, under-forest economy, intercropping patterns and industrialization production are the research hotspots in this field; cultivation technology and nutritional fertilization technology are the main areas addressed in recent years. Therefore, the high-quality and sustainable development of CMMs cultivation should be examined in terms of theoretical approaches, technical innovation, multi-cooperation, and intellectual property protection.

Sustainable polyurethane for the remediation of oil spills: a review.

Catastrophic oil spill is one of the major issues to the environment. Various methods have been used to treat oil spillage including in situ burning, the use of skimmers, dispersants, bioremediation, dispersing agents, oil sorbents, and biological agents. Application of oil sorbent is one of the effective solutions in oil spill clean-up. Polymers are sustainable extraordinary materials for the treatment of oil spillage due to their special physicochemical characteristics such as high porosity, good hydrophobicity, and reusability. Polymers are modified using suitable chemical reagents and their hydrophobicity is enhanced, making them suitable for oil spill clean-up. The present manuscript is an attempt to summarize the study of chemical modifications done on a polymer polyurethane (PU) for achieving the desirable properties, for efficient oil spill clean-up. A patent analysis has been carried out for the leading countries, top inventors, leading assignees, trends of patent publications, citation analysis, and summary of granted patents in the area of the use of a polymer Polyurethane (PU) for oil spill clean-up.

Recent developments in enzymatic and microbial biosynthesis of flavor and fragrance molecules.

Flavors and fragrances are an important class of specialty chemicals for which interest in biomanufacturing has risen during recent years. These naturally occurring compounds are often amenable to biosynthesis using purified enzyme catalysts or metabolically engineered microbial cells in fermentation processes. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the categories of molecules that have received the greatest interest, both academically and industrially, by examining scholarly publications as well as patent literature. Overall, we seek to highlight innovations in the key reaction steps and microbial hosts used in flavor and fragrance manufacturing.

A data-driven analysis to discover research hotspots and trends of technologies for PFAS removal.

The frequent detection of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in organisms and environment coupled with surging evidence for potential detrimental impacts, have attracted widespread attention throughout the world. In order to reveal research hotspots and trends of technologies for PFAS removal, herein, we performed a data-driven analysis of 3975 papers and 436 patents from Web of Science Core Collection and Derwent Innovation Index databases up to 2023. The results showed that China and the USA led the way in the research of PFAS removal with outstanding contributions to publications. The progression generally transitioned from accidental discovery of decomposition, to experimentation with removal effects and mechanisms of existing methods, and finally to enhanced defluorination and mechanism-driven design approaches. The keywords co-occurrence network and technology classification together revealed the main knowledge framework, which was constructed and correlated through contaminants, substrates, materials, processes and properties. Moreover, adsorption was demonstrated to be the dominant removal process among the current studies. Subsequently, we concluded the principles, advances and drawbacks of enrichment and separation, biological methods, advanced oxidation and reduction processes. Further exploration indicated the hotspots such as alternatives and precursors for PFAS ("genx": 1.258, "f-53b": 0.337), degradable mineralization technologies ("photocatalytic degrad": 0.529, "hydrated electron": 0.374), environment-friendly remediation technologies ("phytoremedi": 0.939, "constructed wetland": 0.462) and combination with novel materials ("metal-organic framework": 1.115, "layered double hydroxid": 0.559) as well as computer science ("molecular dynamics simul": 0.559, "machine learn"). Furthermore, the future direction of technological innovation might lie in high-performance processes that minimize secondary pollution, the development of recyclable and renewable treatment agents, and collaborative control strategies for multiple pollutants. Overall, this study offers comprehensive and objective review for researchers and industry professionals in this field, enabling rapid access to knowledge guidance and insights into research frontiers.

The History and Prediction of Prebiotics and Postbiotics: A Patent Analysis.

Prebiotics and postbiotics have gained attention as functional food additives due to their substantial influence on the gut microbiome and potential implications for human health on a broader scale. In addition, the number of patents for these additives has also increased, yet their functional classification has been problematic. In this study, we classified 2215 patents granted from 2001 to 2020 by functionality to enable predictions of future development directions. These patents encompassed subjects as diverse as feed supplementation, regulation of intestinal homeostasis, prevention of gastrointestinal ailments, targeted drug administration and augmentation of drug potency. The progression of patents issued during this time frame could be divided into three phases: occasional accounts prior to 2001, a period from 2001 to 2013 during which an average of 42 patents were issued annually, followed by a surge exceeding 140 patents annually after 2013. The latter increase has indicated that pre- and post-biotics have been recognized as biologically relevant. Patent mining therefore can enable forecasts of the future trajectory of these biologics and provide insights to evaluate their advancement. Moreover, this research is the first attempt to generalize and predict the directions of prebiotics and postbiotics using patent information and offers a comprehensive perspective for the potential utilization of prebiotics and postbiotics across a wide variety of fields.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management and Treatment: An Overview of Published Patents.

BACKGROUND: One of the most challenging effects of diabetes is diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). DFU may occur in up to one-third of individuals with diabetes mellitus (D.M.) at some point in their lives. The major cause of morbidity in D.M. patients is DFU. The length of treatment is difficult, and DFU recurrence is common. OBJECTIVE: The most crucial element for the treatment and prevention of DFUs require a multidisciplinary approach. Patients who are at risk should be identified, depending on the type of risk, prophylactic actions etc. It is imperative to identify at-risk patients and take preventative measures accordingly. METHOD: The at-risk diabetes-related foot ulcer was identified based on the risk category classification, while the foot ulcers were evaluated using Wagner's classification system. RESULTS: Literature reported that patients with lower limb vascular insufficiency, loss of vibratory sensation, or protective sensation loss have an increased risk of developing foot ulcers. Proper categorization and therapeutic measures will be implemented after the DFU has been formed. The appropriate assessment and management of general health status should include glycemic control, the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, standard care for wounds, diagnosis, and infection treatments. CONCLUSION: The review reflects the updated awareness of the treatment and management of DFU based on the current and past literature and patent analysis.

Herbal Technological Prospects of Morus nigra L.: A Systematic Patent Analysis Review.

BACKGROUND: Morus nigra L. is a plant with significant potential for drug development due to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds in its various parts. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to compile the technological perspectives of Morus nigra L. towards drug development and therapeutic indications based on registered patents in databases. METHODS: The study analyzed patents published within the last five years, focusing on products derived from different parts of the Morus nigra L. plant. Patent databases such as the European Patent Office (EPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the National Institute of Industrial Property Databases (INPI) were examined. RESULTS: A total of 45 patents were categorized by country of origin, type of applicant, extraction method, and therapeutic indications. China had the highest number of patent filings (43.48%), and private companies were the primary technology patent holders (38.64%). Noteworthy extraction methods included ultrasound-assisted extraction, decoction, infusion, and maceration. The most utilized plant parts were leaves (44.44%), followed by fruits (35.56%), root bark (15.56%), and stems (4.44%). The main therapeutic indications identified were the treatment of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia (43.33%), along with digestive problems, cosmetics, nutrition, and cleaning applications. CONCLUSION: The study of patents covers discoveries and advancements often absent in scientific articles, making a review focused on this advanced information crucial for expanding existing scientific knowledge. Even if some therapies have been explored previously, patents can reveal innovative approaches and fresh perspectives that contribute to sustained scientific progress.

Advances in Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: A Bibliometric and Patent Analysis.

Transdermal drug delivery systems have become an intriguing research topic in healthcare technology and one of the most frequently developed pharmaceutical products in the global market. In recent years, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have made significant progress in developing new solutions in the field. This study sheds light on current trends, collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers of transdermal drug delivery. Herein, a bibliometric and patent analysis of data recovered from Scopus and The Lens databases, respectively, is reported over the last 20 years. From 2000 to 2022, the annual global publications increased from 131 in 2000 to 659 in 2022. Researchers in the United States, China, and India produced the highest number of publications. Likewise, most patent applications have been filed in the USA, China, and Europe. The recovered patents are 7275, grouped into 2997 patent families, of which 314 were granted. This study could support the work of decision-makers, scientific managers, or scientists to create new business opportunities or save money, time, and intellectual capital, thereby defining when a research or technology project should be a priority or not.

Imidazoles as Serotonin Receptor Modulators for Treatment of Depression: Structural Insights and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies.

Serotoninergic signaling is identified as a crucial player in psychiatric disorders (notably depression), presenting it as a significant therapeutic target for treating such conditions. Inhibitors of serotoninergic signaling (especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)) are prominently selected as first-line therapy for the treatment of depression, which benefits via increasing low serotonin levels and norepinephrine by blocking serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake and thereby increasing activity. While developing newer heterocyclic scaffolds to target/modulate the serotonergic systems, imidazole-bearing pharmacophores have emerged. The imidazole-derived pharmacophore already demonstrated unique structural characteristics and an electron-rich environment, ultimately resulting in a diverse range of bioactivities. Therefore, the current manuscript discloses such a specific modification and structural activity relationship (SAR) of attempted derivatization in terms of the serotonergic efficacy of the resultant inhibitor. We also featured a landscape of imidazole-based development, focusing on SAR studies against the serotoninergic system to target depression. This study covers the recent advancements in synthetic methodologies for imidazole derivatives and the development of new molecules having antidepressant activity via modulating serotonergic systems, along with their SAR studies. The focus of the study is to provide structural insights into imidazole-based derivatives as serotonergic system modulators for the treatment of depression.

[The advance of ω-transaminase in chiral amine biosynthesis in China from the perspective of patents].

ω-transaminases are able to catalyze the reversible transfer of amino groups between diverse amino compounds (such as amino acids, alkyl amines, aromatic amines) and carbonyl compounds (such as aldehydes, ketones, ketoacids). ω-transaminases exhibit great application prospects in the field of chiral amine biosynthesis because of their desirable properties, such as wide range of substrates, high stereoselectivity, and mild catalytic conditions. It is therefore important for China to develop efficient, specific, and environment-friendly chiral amine production technologies with independent intellectual property rights, which is of great significance for the development of pharmaceutical, pesticide, and material industries. This review systematically summarizes the Chinese patents regarding ω-transaminase filed by Chinese institutions in the recent decade. The development of ω-transaminase resource, enzymatic property improvement by protein engineering, application in chiral amine synthesis, and development of production technologies are elaborated. This review will shed light on further basic and application studies of ω-transaminase.

An analysis of the key drivers of the Japanese digital therapeutics patents: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Digital therapeutics (DTx) are software or other tools that support or implement medical practices such as disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment using digital technology. DTx has been approved in Japan, and it is anticipated that the number of approvals will increase in the future. DTx differs from conventional medical devices in that its primary purpose is treatment. Aim: This study aims to identify the key drivers of DTx in Japan by analyzing patents in the field of medical information, including DTx. Methodology: This study visualizes the results of patent analyses for DTx and examines patent applications that feature applied technology and indications in the medical information field as the key drivers. The study will also employ patent citation analysis. It can be argued that the more citations a patent receives, the more similar research and development activities are being conducted, and the greater the competition. The number of citations per patent application will also be calculated to help identify areas where the value per patent application is high and competition intensifies. A patent citation matrix analysis will be conducted for notable Japanese companies in the DTx field. The citation matrix analysis consists of the number of citations and the company's selfcitation ratio to visualize the patent value. This study investigates the key drivers of DTx by analyzing patent technologies, focusing on patent applications with a high number of citations or a high selfcitation ratio. Results: Key drivers of digital therapeutics were examined by analyzing patents in the fields of healthcare informatics and diagnostics. In terms of the number of patent applications and citations in Japan, numerous patents were related to "applications," "sensors," "medical imaging," "central nervous system/psychiatry," and "heart." As a result, Japanese companies are expected to conduct R&D with an eye toward overseas expansion.

Artificial intelligence in wastewater treatment: A data-driven analysis of status and trends.

Wastewater treatment is a complex process that involves many uncertainties, leading to fluctuations in effluent quality and costs, and environmental risks. Artificial intelligence (AI) can handle complex nonlinear problems and has become a powerful tool for exploring and managing wastewater treatment systems. This study provides a summary of the current status and trends in AI research as applied to wastewater treatment, based on published papers and patents. Our results indicate that, at present, AI is primarily used to evaluate removal of pollutants (conventional, typical, and emerging contaminants), optimize models and process parameters, and control membrane fouling. Future research will likely continue to focus on removal of phosphorus, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants. Moreover, analyzing microbial community dynamics and achieving multi-objective optimization are promising directions of research. The knowledge map shows that there may be future technological innovation related to predicting water quality under specific conditions, integrating AI with other information technologies and utilizing image-based AI and other algorithms in wastewater treatment. In addition, we briefly review development of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and explore the evolutionary path of AI in wastewater treatment. Our findings provide valuable insights into potential opportunities and challenges for researchers applying AI to wastewater treatment.

Tracing technological evolution and trajectory of biomass power generation: a patent-based analysis.

Biomass power generation technologies, which are now mature and competitive, can alleviate power shortages, reduce the damaging environmental effects of coal-based power generation, and provide alternative renewable energy. While understanding trends is essential for making policies and decisions, few studies to date have examined biomass power generation's technological evolutionary development path from a patent data perspective. This paper uses patent data to reveal the biomass power generation technological evolutionary trajectory. Using growth curve and citation network approaches, the evolution of the core technologies and the main trajectories over time were identified. After simulations and predictions based on the logistic growth curve, it was revealed that biomass power generation had entered technological maturity and would meet saturation in 2031. Main path analysis was introduced to trace the technological trajectory. The patent citation analysis revealed six main technology paths. Further analysis identified biomass power generation hybridization, the use of waste to generate power, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage as potential technologies to achieve negative emissions.

Patent mining on soil pollution remediation technology from the perspective of technological trajectory.

Recent years have seen a marked growth in soil environmental problems, however, the research & development (R&D) direction of soil pollution remediation technology (SPRT) for addressing related challenges to the global ecosystem is still unclear. Patent is the most effective carrier of technological information. Therefore, this study investigates the status and future direction of SPRT through the analysis and mining of 14,475 patents from 1971 to 2020. In 2006-2020, 14,435 SPRT patents (79% of the total) were published, which is in the development stage. By measuring the proportion of high-value patents, determined by the ratio of the number of patent families containing two or more patents (PF2) to that containing at least one patent (PF1), we found that United States (PF2/PF1 = 0.711), Japan (PF2/PF1 = 0.500), and South Korea (PF2/PF1 = 0.431) hold a monopoly. International patent organizations serve as a bridge for technology transfer. Patent CN101947539-A measured by structural hole index (Effective size = 98.194, Efficiency = 0.926) has the most significant technological influence. Therefore, in order to accomplish the technological transition and improve the soil remediation capacity, more attention should be paid to the microbial-assisted phytoremediation technology related to inorganic pollutants, hyperaccumulators and stabilizers. Additionally, patents CN102834190-A (Effective size = 23.930, Efficiency = 0.855, Constraint = 0.141, Hierarchy = 0.089) and CN105855289 (Effective size = 21.453, Efficiency = 0.795 Constraint = 0.149, Hierarchy = 0.086) are both at the location of structural holes. So, more research should be carried out on green and cost-effective solutions for reducing organic pollutants in soil remediation. The current study identifies opportunities for innovations and breakthroughs in SPRT and offers relevant information on technological development prospects.

Hotspots and trends of biological water treatment based on bibliometric review and patents analysis.

In order to reveal the hotspots and trends of biological water treatment from the perspectives of scientific and technological innovation, both of the bibliometric review and patents analysis were performed in this study. The Web of Science Core Collection database and Derwent Innovation Index database recorded 30023 SCI papers and 50326 patents, respectively were analyzed via information visualization technology. The results showed that China ranked the first in both papers and patents, while the United States and Japan had advantages in papers and patents, respectively. It was concluded through literature metrology analysis that microbial population characteristics, biodegradation mechanism, toxicity analysis, nitrogen and phosphorus removal and biological treatment of micro-polluted wastewater were the research hotspots of SCI papers. Activated sludge process and anaerobic-aerobic combined process were the two mainstream technologies on the basis of patent technology classification analysis. Technology evolution path of biological water treatment was also elucidated in three stages based on the citation network analysis. Furthermore, the future directions including research on the law of interaction and regulation of biological phases and pollutants and the technology innovations towards the targeted biotransformation or selective biodegradation of pollutants and resource reuse of wastewater were prospected.

Biological filtration for wastewater treatment in the 21st century: A data-driven analysis of hotspots, challenges and prospects.

Biological filtration has been widely used in wastewater treatment around the world, yet achieving satisfactory removal of pollutants remains a challenge due to the complexity of water pollution. In order to reveal the hotspots and trends of biological filtration from the perspective of research innovation, 5454 SCI papers and 14,287 patents collected from the Web of Science Core Collection and Derwent Innovation Index database were analyzed by visualization techniques. The results showed that China ranked first in the number of both papers and patents, while the USA and Japan contributed significantly in papers and patents, respectively. Co-occurrence analysis obtained the mapping knowledge domains and demonstrated distinct associations between contaminants ("nitrogen", "pharmaceuticals", "personal care products"), chemicals ("carbon", "activated carbon", "media"), process ("biodegradation", "adsorption" or "ozonation") and characteristics ("kinetics", "performance", "diversity"). Moreover, this review summarized the recent advances of biological filtration media, microorganism and combined process being applied. It was concluded that environmentally friendly biological filtration ("phytoremedi", "microalga", "recirculating aquaculture system"), bio-enhanced biological filtration ("bioaugment", "fungi", "low augment") and emerging pollutants ("emerging contamin", "antibiotic resistance gen", "organic micropollut", "trace organic chem") were the hotspots through data-driven analyses. Technology evolution path of biological filtration generally indicated the transition from conventional biological filtration for nitrogen and phosphorus removal to Fenton-biofiltration combined technology and finally to ozone-biological filtration. Furthermore, the technical innovation direction of the collaborative control of multi-media pollution, the low-carbon biological filtration and short-process technology was prospected. This work can serve as a quick reference for early-career researchers and industries working in the area of biological filtration.

Key Drivers for Non-Centrifugal Sugar Cane Research, Technological Development, and Market Linkage: A Technological Roadmap Approach for Colombia.

Food science innovation depends on consumers' needs and is currently seeking functional food with health effects. Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is known for its potential health effects, but there is a lack of holistic analysis on technological advancement and socio-economic and market trends for decision-making in the development of the technology. The aim of this article was to analyse the research trends, recent patents, and market trends and niches for NCS to structure an NCS technological roadmap. Scientometric, bibliometric methods, and global and local market information on NCS were used. Comprehensive analysis of the worldwide research trends and patents on NCS processing and of the growth of the main niche markets for Colombian NCS exports in the last five years was conducted. Finally, with the information obtained, an NCS technological roadmap was structured, which can be used as a tool for planning innovation processes and supporting the development of new research using market information and new norms forged by the COVID-19 pandemic for Colombian case. Furthermore, the methodological design could be used for other NCS producer countries. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12355-022-01200-9.