Method for increasing the permeability of an epithelial barrier
First Claim
1. A method for increasing the permeability of a cellular layer that comprises epithelial cells, the method comprising:
- contacting the cellular layer with a microneedle, the microneedle including a plurality of nanostructures and microstructures formed on an external surface thereof in a predetermined pattern, wherein at least a portion of the microstructures have a cross-sectional dimension of greater than about 500 nanometers and less than about 10 micrometers and a height of from about 20 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, the cross-sectional dimension of the microstructures being greater than the height of the microstructures, wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension of from about 5 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, wherein subsequent to contact between the cellular layer and the microneedle, the cellular layer exhibits increased permeability to the drug compound.
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Abstract
Disclosed are nanotopography-based methods and devices for interacting with a component of epithelial tissue and increasing the permeability of the tissue. Devices include structures fabricated on a surface to form a nanotopography. A random or non-random pattern of structures may be fabricated such as a complex pattern including structures of differing sizes and/or shapes. Microneedles may be beneficially utilized for delivery of an agent to a cell or tissue. Devices may be utilized to directly or indirectly alter cell behavior through the interaction of a fabricated nanotopography with the components of epithelial tissue.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for increasing the permeability of a cellular layer that comprises epithelial cells, the method comprising:
contacting the cellular layer with a microneedle, the microneedle including a plurality of nanostructures and microstructures formed on an external surface thereof in a predetermined pattern, wherein at least a portion of the microstructures have a cross-sectional dimension of greater than about 500 nanometers and less than about 10 micrometers and a height of from about 20 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, the cross-sectional dimension of the microstructures being greater than the height of the microstructures, wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension of from about 5 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, wherein subsequent to contact between the cellular layer and the microneedle, the cellular layer exhibits increased permeability to the drug compound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification