MICROCELL SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING ACTIVE MOLECULES
An active molecule delivery system whereby active molecules can be released on demand and/or a variety of different active molecules can be delivered from the same system and/or different concentrations of active molecules can be delivered from the same system. The active delivery system includes a plurality of microcells, wherein the microcells are filled with a medium including active molecules. The microcells include an opening, and the opening is spanned by a porous diffusion layer. The microcell arrays may be loaded with different active ingredients, thereby providing a mechanism to deliver different, or complimentary, active ingredients on demand.
1 . An active molecule delivery system comprising:
a plurality of microcells, including first and second microcells, wherein each microcell includes an opening spanned by a porous diffusion layer, wherein
the first microcell includes a first active molecule, and
the second microcell includes a second active molecule different from the first active molecule.
2 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the porous diffusion layer.
3 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the porous diffusion layer comprises an acrylate, a methacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyvinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, amorphous nylon, oriented polyester, terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyisobutylene, or polystyrene.
4 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first or the second active molecule is distributed in a biocompatible non-polar liquid.
5 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first or the second active molecule is distributed in an aqueous liquid.
6 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first or the second active molecule is a pharmaceutical compound.
7 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of microcells has a volume greater than 100 nL.
8 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the porous diffusion layer has an average pore size of between 10 nm and 100 μm.
9 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the first microcell is thicker than the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the second microcell.
10 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the first microcell has a smaller average pore size than the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the second microcell.
11 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the volume of the first microcell is smaller than the volume of the second microcell.
12 . An active molecule delivery system comprising:
a plurality of microcells, including first and second microcells, wherein each microcell includes an opening spanned by a porous diffusion layer, wherein
the first microcell includes an active molecule at a first concentration, and
the second microcell includes the active molecule at a second concentration different from the first concentration.
13 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , further comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the porous diffusion layer.
14 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the porous diffusion layer comprises an acrylate, a methacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyvinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, amorphous nylon, oriented polyester, terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyisobutylene, or polystyrene.
15 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the active molecules are distributed in a biocompatible non-polar liquid.
16 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the active molecules are distributed in an aqueous liquid.
17 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the active molecule is a pharmaceutical compound.
18 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of microcells has a volume greater than 100 nL.
19 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the porous diffusion layer has an average pore size of between 10 nm and 100 μm.
20 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the first microcell is thicker than the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the second microcell.
21 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the first microcell has a smaller average pore size than the portion of the porous diffusion layer spanning the opening of the second microcell.
22 . The active molecule delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the volume of the first microcell is smaller than the volume of the second microcell.
23 . An active molecule delivery system comprising:
a plurality of microcells, each microcell containing a mixture comprising an active molecule, and each microcell being sealed with a sealing layer;
a microneedle array comprising a plurality of microneedles; and
a compressible layer disposed between the microneedle array and the plurality of microcells, wherein the microneedles are configured to penetrate through a microcell, thereby piercing the sealing layer and releasing the active molecule from the microcell.