Microneedle Devices and Methods of Drug Delivery or Fluid Withdrawal
First Claim
1. A device for sustained delivery of drug across or into a biological barrier comprising:
- a base substrate which comprises a drug dispersed in a water-swellable matrix material; and
one or more microneedles extending from the base substrate, wherein the one or more microneedles comprise a water-soluble or water-swellable material,wherein the one or more microneedles will dissolve or swell following insertion into the biological barrier, providing a transport pathway for the drug to pass from the base substrate into the biological barrier; and
wherein the base substrate is adapted to become wetted and swell following insertion of the one or more microneedles into the biological barrier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microneedle devices and methods of manufacture and use thereof are provided. The devices may be used in controlled delivery of drug across or into a biological barrier, such as skin, or fluid withdrawal from a biological barrier. In one case, the device includes a base substrate which comprises a drug dispersed in a swellable matrix material; and one or more microneedles extending from the base substrate, wherein the one or more microneedles comprise a water-soluble or water-swellable material, wherein the one or more microneedles will dissolve or swell following insertion into the biological barrier, providing a transport pathway for the drug to pass from the base substrate into the biological barrier.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A device for sustained delivery of drug across or into a biological barrier comprising:
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a base substrate which comprises a drug dispersed in a water-swellable matrix material; and one or more microneedles extending from the base substrate, wherein the one or more microneedles comprise a water-soluble or water-swellable material, wherein the one or more microneedles will dissolve or swell following insertion into the biological barrier, providing a transport pathway for the drug to pass from the base substrate into the biological barrier; and wherein the base substrate is adapted to become wetted and swell following insertion of the one or more microneedles into the biological barrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A microneedle array for drug delivery comprising,
a base substrate comprising a first drug dispersed in a swellable matrix material; -
a plurality of microneedles extending from the base substrate, wherein the plurality of microneedles comprises a water-soluble or water-swellable material in which a second drug is dispersed, wherein the plurality of microneedles will dissolve or swell following insertion into a biological barrier, providing a transport pathway for the first and second drugs to pass into the biological barrier; and wherein the base substrate is adapted to swell following insertion of the microneedles into the biological barrier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of delivering a drug across or into a biological barrier comprising:
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providing a microneedle device that includes (i) a base substrate which comprises a drug dispersed in a swellable matrix material, and (ii) a plurality of microneedles extending from the base substrate; inserting the microneedles into the biological barrier, to create a plurality of holes in the biological barrier; wetting the base substrate and causing the base substrate to swell; allowing the drug to diffuse from the base substrate through the holes and into the biological barrier. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of extracting a fluid from a biological barrier comprising:
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providing a microneedle device that includes (i) a base substrate which comprises a water-swellable polymeric material, and (ii) one more microneedles extending from the base substrate, which one or more microneedles comprise a water-soluble or water-swellable material; inserting the one or more microneedles into the biological barrier, to create corresponding one or more holes in the biological barrier; and withdrawing fluid from the biological barrier through the one or more holes and into the base substrate.
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29. A method for making a microneedle device comprising:
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providing an inverse mold for at least one microneedle, the mold having a base surface in which are located one or more concavities, each in the shape of a microneedle; providing a microneedle structural material in a fluidized form, which comprises a water-soluble or -swellable material; using centrifugation or vacuum to force the fluidized structural material into the one or more concavities; hardening the structural material into the form of one or more microneedles; forming a base substrate connected to the one or more microneedles, wherein the base substrate comprises a drug dispersed in a matrix material; and releasing the one or more microneedles from the inverse mold.
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Specification