Tracing the system transformations and innovation pathways of an emerging technology: Solid lipid nanoparticles

Xiao Zhou, Lu Huang, Alan Porter and Jose M. Vicente-Gomila

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2019, vol. 146, issue C, 785-794

Abstract: Accurately evaluating opportunities in new and emerging science and technologies is a growing concern. This study proposes an integrated framework for identifying a range of potential innovation pathways and commercial applications for solid lipid nanoparticles – one particularly promising contender within the field of nano-enabled drug delivery. Several text mining techniques – term clumping, SAO technique, and net effect analysis – as well as technology roadmapping, are combined with expert judgment to identify the main areas of R&D in this field, and to track their evolution over time. Through analysis, data from multiple sources, including research publications, patents, and commercial press, reveal possible future applications and commercialization opportunities for this emerging technology. We find that research is moving away from materials and delivery outcomes toward clinical applications. The most promising markets are pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; however, the “time-to-market” is much shorter for cosmetics than it is for pharmaceuticals.

Keywords: Solid lipid nanoparticles; Research topic identification; Technology innovation pathways; New and emerging science & technology; Tech mining; Technology roadmapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:146:y:2019:i:c:p:785-794

DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.04.026

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