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Publication Number
US-9572969-B2
Publication Date
2017-02-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for delivery of material or stimulus to targets within a body to produce a desired response, the targets being at least one of cells of interest, cell organelles of interest and cell nuclei of interest. The device includes a number of projections for penetrating a body surface, with the number of projections being selected to produce a desired response, and the number being at least 500. A spacing between projections is also at least partially determined based on an arrangement of the targets within the body.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for delivery of material to a biological subject. The device includes a solid base and solid, non-porous, non-hollow projections extending from the base, and the projections are at least partially coated with a non-liquid coating including the material. Each projection comprises a tip for penetrating a surface of the biological subject, and the stated approach uses many solid micro-/nanoprojections to penetrate biological surfaces and deliver the coated non-liquid material or stimulus at biological targets.
The core structure is defined by a dense micro/nanoprojection array having specified geometric constraints. The number of projections is at least 500, each projection has a length between 200 μm and 1000 μm, and each projection has a base width between 5 μm and 50 μm. The projections are separated by a spacing between 10 μm and 200 μm, the tip is less than 500 nm in diameter, and the density of the projections is between 10 projections/mm^2 to 100 projections/mm^2.
In the vaccine variant, the device is for delivery of a vaccine to produce an immune response within the biological subject. One or more projections are at least partially coated with a non-liquid vaccine, and the projections are arranged in an array for penetrating the subject’s surface. The background problem addressed is the need for delivering material or stimulus into biological targets using penetration-based micro-/nanoprojections with controlled delivery.
The described goal is to achieve desired biological responses while using a projection array defined by the stated probabilistic selection of projection number and spacing based on target arrangement, rather than selecting specific projections for specific cells. Documented context includes penetration into surfaces such as epidermis and dermis, and delivery into target-site environments including stated examples such as Langerhans cells and cellular nuclei.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified: one directed to a general delivery device for delivering material, and one directed to a vaccine-delivery device configured to produce an immune response. Each independent claim includes multiple inventive structural and geometric features, with the vaccine claim further requiring a non-liquid vaccine coating.
Dense micro-nanoprojection delivery device with non-liquid coating
A device for delivery of material comprising a solid base and solid, non-porous, non-hollow projections extending from the base, wherein each projection is at least partially coated with a non-liquid coating including the material and includes a tip for penetrating a surface of the biological subject; the number of projections is at least 500; each projection has a length between 200 μm and 1000 μm; each projection has a base width between 5 μm and 50 μm; the projections are separated by a spacing between 10 μm and 200 μm; the tip is less than 500 nm in diameter; and the density of the projections is between 10 projections/mm^2 to 100 projections/mm^2.
Arrayed micro-nanoprojection vaccine device for immune response
A device for delivery of a vaccine to a biological subject to produce an immune response comprising a solid base and a number of solid, non-porous, non-hollow projections extending from the base arranged in an array, where each projection includes a tip for penetrating a surface; the number of projections is at least 500; each projection has a length between 200 μm and 1000 μm; each projection has a base width between 5 μm and 50 μm; the projections are separated by a spacing between 10 μm and 200 μm; one or more projections are at least partially coated with a non-liquid vaccine; the tip is less than 500 nm in diameter; and the density of the projections is between 10 projections/mm^2 to 100 projections/mm^2.
The independent claims cover a delivery device built around a dense array of solid, non-porous, non-hollow micro-/nanoprojections with a tip sized below 500 nm and specified constraints on number, length, base width, spacing, and projection density; the second independent claim specializes this structure for vaccine delivery by requiring a non-liquid vaccine coating and an immune-response outcome.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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