Composite microneedle array including nanostructures thereon
View Patent ↗Disclosed are composite microneedles arrays including microneedles and a film overlaying the microneedles. The film includes a plurality of nano-sized structures fabricated thereon. Devices may be utilized for interacting with a component of the dermal connective tissue. A random or non-random pattern of structures may be fabricated such as a complex pattern including structures of differing sizes and/or shapes. Devices 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 plasma membrane of a cell and/or with an extracellular matrix component.
1. A composite microneedle array comprising:
a microneedle assembly that includes a plurality of microneedles; and
a film overlaying at least one microneedle of the microneedle assembly, the film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the film is adhered to the microneedle and at least partially conforms thereto, the film comprising a plurality of nanostructures on the second surface of the film arranged to project outward from the second surface of the film, and wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures have a cross-sectional dimension of less than 500 nanometers and greater than 5 nanometers, a height of from 10 nanometers to 1 micrometer, and an aspect ratio of from 0.2 to 5.
2. The composite microneedle array according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microneedles contains a channel along a length of the microneedle.
3. The composite microneedle array according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures have a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 400 nanometers and greater than about 10 nanometers.
4. The composite microneedle array according to claim 1 , wherein the film further comprises microstructures on the second surface of the film, the nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than the microstructures.
5. The composite microneedle array according to claim 4 , further comprising second nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension less than the cross-sectional dimension of the microstructures and greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the first nanostructures.
6. The composite microneedle array according to claim 4 , wherein the microstructures and/or the nanostructures are arranged in a pattern that comprises a fractal and/or fractal-like geometry.
7. The composite microneedle array according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures have a height of from 100 nanometers to 700 nanometers.
8. The composite microneedle array according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures have an aspect ratio of from 0.5 to 3.5.
9. A transdermal patch comprising a composite microneedle array, which comprises:
a microneedle assembly that includes a plurality of microneedles; and
a film overlaying at least one microneedle of the microneedle assembly, the film having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the film is adhered to the microneedle and at least partially conforms thereto, the film comprising a plurality of nanostructures on the second surface of the film arranged to project outward from the second surface of the film, and wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures have a cross-sectional dimension of less than 500 nanometers and greater than 5 nanometers, a height of from 10 nanometers to 1 micrometer, and an aspect ratio of from 0.2 to 5.
10. The transdermal patch according to claim 9 , further comprising a reservoir for holding a drug compound.
11. The transdermal patch according to claim 10 , further comprising a rate control membrane in fluid communication with the reservoir.
12. The transdermal patch according to claim 11 , further comprising a release member that is generally impermeable to the drug compound and positioned adjacent to the rate control membrane.
13. The transdermal patch according to claim 10 , wherein the drug compound has a molecular weight of greater than 100 kDa and less than 200 kDa.
14. The transdermal patch according to claim 9 , wherein the nanostructures are arranged in a pattern that comprises a fractal and/or fractal-like geometry.