Parkinson's disease and innovative treatments: a technological patent monitoring of nanoemulsions

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with increasing prevalence attributed to aging populations, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors. Traditional treatments, such as levodopa, remain the standard but face challenges, including side effects and limited drug delivery efficiency. Nanotechnology-based systems, particularly nanoemulsions (NEs), offer promising alternatives by improving drug solubility, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. This study analyzed the global patent landscape on NEs for PD treatment, identifying technological trends and innovations. The search was conducted in databases such as Espacenet, Patent Scope, The Lens, and INPI, covering the period from 2000 to 2024. Of the 278 initial patent applications, 38 were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The United States leads in patent filings, followed by China and Europe. The temporal analysis revealed a peak in patent activity in 2021. However, the number of published patents did not reflect global advancements in drug delivery systems, highlighting a market gap. This finding underscores the potential for developing and patenting NEs to overcome current therapeutic limitations and drive innovation in PD treatment.