Transdermal Drug Administration Apparatus Having Microneedles

• US 20090030365A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuwahara, Tetsuji, Tokumoto, Seiji, Matsudo, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

It is intended to provide a transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, which is capable of piercing the skin by a simple procedure in the transdermal administration of a biologically active substance (drug) and allows rapid absorption of the biologically active substance. The present apparatus comprises a microneedle device (50) comprising a microneedle substrate (53) having a plurality of microneedles (51) capable of piercing the skin, an absorbent (11) disposed thereon, the absorbent (11) comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid, and a dissolving solution reservoir (18) disposed on the absorbent (11), the dissolving solution reservoir (18) containing a dissolving solution (16) for dissolving a drug and being capable of disrupting a diaphragm (20) provided the dissolving solution reservoir (18) and the absorbent (11) by pressing. A coating containing a dry drug is disposed on the microneedles (51) and/or the microneedle substrate (53).

Claims

1. A transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, comprising:

a microneedle device comprising a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and a microneedle substrate having at least one solution passage;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug;

a pad portion disposed on the microneedle device; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the pad portion, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for drug dissolution,

wherein by pressing the dissolving solution reservoir, the dissolving solution reservoir is opened to supply the dissolving solution to the pad portion and the microneedle device, and further the microneedles pierce the skin, thereby allowing transdermal absorption of the drug dissolved in the dissolving solution.

2. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, further comprising, on the pad portion, an electrode for supplying electrical energy from outside.

3. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, further comprising, on the pad portion, a sonic transducer for supplying sonic vibration energy from outside.

4. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, wherein the microneedle device comprises, on the microneedle substrate, a plate-like reinforcement having at least one solution passage.

5. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, wherein the pad portion contains a dry drug.

6. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 5, wherein the pad portion comprises a drug retainer containing the dry drug, and an absorbent for absorbing the dissolving solution.

13. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microneedles have a hollow passage in the longitudinal direction thereof, the hollow passages of the microneedles being connected to the solution passage of the microneedle substrate.

14. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 1, further comprising, outside the microneedle device, a skin anchoring portion for stretching the skin.

7. A transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, comprising:

a microneedle device comprising a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and a microneedle substrate having at least one solution passage;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug;

an absorbent disposed on the microneedle device, the absorbent comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the absorbent, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for dissolving the drug and being capable of disrupting a diaphragm provided between the dissolving solution reservoir and the absorbent by pressing.

8. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 7, wherein the absorbent contains a dry drug.

10. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 7, wherein the drug retainer contains a dry drug.

11. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 7, further comprising, on the absorbent, an electrode for supplying electrical energy from outside.

12. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 7, comprising, on the absorbent, a sonic transducer for supplying sonic vibration energy from outside.

9. A transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, comprising:

a microneedle device comprising a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and a microneedle substrate having at least one solution passage;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug;

a drug retainer disposed on the microneedle device;

an absorbent disposed on the drug retainer, the absorbent comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the absorbent, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for dissolving the drug and being capable of disrupting a diaphragm provided between the dissolving solution reservoir and the absorbent by pressing.

15. A transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, comprising:

a microneedle device comprising a microneedle substrate having a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the microneedle device, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for drug dissolution,

wherein by pressing the dissolving solution reservoir, the dissolving solution reservoir is opened to supply the dissolving solution to the microneedle device, and further the microneedles pierce the skin, thereby allowing transdermal administration via the microneedles of the drug dissolved in the dissolving solution.

16. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 15, wherein the dissolving solution is supplied to the microneedles via at least one solution passage formed on the microneedle substrate.

17. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 15, wherein the dissolving solution is supplied to the microneedles from around the microneedle substrate.

18. The transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles according to claim 15, further comprising an absorbent comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid, in an area which is located between the microneedle device and the dissolving solution reservoir and at least corresponds to an area where the dissolving solution reservoir is opened.

19. A method for applying a coating containing a drug to microneedles and/or a microneedle substrate in a microneedle device comprising a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and the microneedle substrate supporting the microneedles, comprising the steps of:

mixing a drug and a liquid to prepare a liquid composition;

applying the liquid composition to the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate; and

drying the applied liquid composition.

20. A transdermal drug administration method, comprising:

putting, onto the skin, an apparatus comprising a microneedle device having a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and a microneedle substrate supporting the microneedles;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug;

a pad portion disposed on the microneedle device; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the pad portion, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for drug dissolution; and

by pressing the dissolving solution reservoir, opening the dissolving solution reservoir to supply the dissolving solution to the pad portion and the microneedle device, and further piercing the skin with the microneedles, thereby allowing transdermal administration via the microneedles of the drug dissolved in the dissolving solution.

21. A transdermal drug administration method, comprising:

putting, onto the skin, an apparatus comprising a microneedle device comprising a plurality of microneedles capable of piercing the skin and a microneedle substrate supporting the microneedles;

a coating disposed on the microneedles and/or the microneedle substrate, the coating containing a dry drug; and

a dissolving solution reservoir disposed on the microneedle device, the dissolving solution reservoir containing a dissolving solution for drug dissolution; and

by pressing the dissolving solution reservoir, opening the dissolving solution reservoir to supply the dissolving solution to the microneedle device, and further piercing the skin with the microneedles, thereby allowing transdermal administration via the microneedles of the drug dissolved in the dissolving solution.