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Method for increasing the permeability of an epithelial barrier

  • US 10,342,965 B2
  • Filed: 01/24/2017
  • Issued: 07/09/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for increasing permeability of a cellular layer that comprises epithelial cells, the method comprising:

  • placing, in direct contact with the cellular layer, a microneedle device configured to deliver a drug compound thereto, the microneedle device comprising;

    a support;

    a plurality of microneedles extending from the support, each of the microneedles of the plurality of microneedles comprising a shaft extending from the support, the shaft including a tip and defining a channel extending from the support to the tip, the channel being sized and shaped for allowing the drug compound to pass therethrough; and

    a plurality of nanostructures associated with each of the microneedles of the plurality of microneedles, at least some of the nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension from about 5 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, a height from about 10 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, and an aspect ratio from about 0.2 to about 5;

    penetrating the cellular layer with at least some of the microneedles of the plurality of microneedles, the nanostructures associated with the at least some of the microneedles acting on the epithelial cells of the cellular layer to increase permeability of the cellular layer; and

    delivering the drug compound through the channels in the shafts of the plurality of microneedles past the cellular layer while the cellular layer has increased permeability.

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