Benefit agent delivery system utilizing an electric field
A benefit agent delivery system can deliver benefit agents on demand. The benefit agent delivery system comprises a first electrode layer, a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, and a porous second electrode layer. Each of the plurality of microcells are filled with a liquid mixture comprising reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, a surfactant or stabilizing particles, and a benefit agent. Application of an electric field across a microcell layer causes an increase in the rate of release of the benefit agent of the microcell through the porous second electrode layer.
1 . A benefit agent delivery system comprising:
a first electrode layer;
a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell including a first opening, and each microcell containing a liquid mixture;
a porous second electrode layer spanning the first opening of each microcell; and
the first electrode layer, the microcell layer, and the porous second electrode layer being vertically stacked upon each other;
the liquid mixture comprising reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, a surfactant or stabilizing particles, and a benefit agent, the reverse micelle having an average diameter of from 10 nm to 10 μm; and
wherein application of an electric field across a microcell via the first and second electrode layers causes an increase in the rate of release of the benefit agent of the microcell through the porous second electrode layer by more than 10% compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer before the application of the electric field.
2 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each microcell further includes a second opening, the first opening and the second opening being at opposite sides of the microcell.
3 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing layer, wherein the sealing layer is disposed between the microcell layer and the porous second electrode layer.
4 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage source that is coupled to the first electrode layer and the porous second electrode layer.
5 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the electric field is alternating.
6 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the alternating electric field has voltage of from 1 V to 250 V and frequency of from 5 Hz to 1000 Hz.
7 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the electric field is direct (DC), the voltage of the applied electric field being from 1 V to 250 V.
8 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrode layer and the porous second electrode layer comprises an active matrix of individual electrodes whereby said individual electrodes can be addressed individually.
9 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic liquid is a hydrocarbon or a combination of hydrocarbons.
10 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, nonionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, and combinations thereof.
11 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the surfactant is a combination of an alkyl succinate and a polyester having a quaternary ammonium functional group.
12 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the average pore size of the porous second electrode layer is larger than 100 nm.
13 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing layer further comprises a conductive material selected from the group consisting of carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, a dopant, and a conductive polymer.
14 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of microcells contains a benefit agent selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutical agent, a vaccine, an antibody, a hormone, a protein, a nucleic acid, a nutraceutical agent, a nutrient, a cosmetic agent, a fragrance, a malodor removing agent, an agricultural agent, an air care agent, an anti-microbial agent, and a preservative.
15 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing layer and the porous second electrode layer are integrated into one layer.
16 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 3 , further comprising a porous diffusion layer or a rate control layer, the porous diffusion layer or the rate control layer being located adjacent to the porous second electrode layer, wherein the porous second electrode layer is disposed between the sealing layer and the porous diffusion layer or the rate control layer.
17 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 3 , further comprising a first adhesive layer disposed between the sealing layer and the porous second electrode layer.
18 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 3 , further comprising a release sheet adjacent to the porous second electrode layer, wherein the porous second electrode layer is disposed between the sealing layer and the release sheet.
19 . The benefit agent delivery system of claim 18 , further comprising a second adhesive layer, wherein the second adhesive layer is disposed between the porous second electrode layer and the release sheet.
20 . A method for operating a benefit agent delivery system comprising the steps of:
providing a benefit agent delivery system comprising (a) a first electrode layer, (b) a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, wherein each microcell includes an opening, and wherein each microcell contains a liquid mixture, wherein the liquid mixture comprises reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, a surfactant or stabilizing particles, and a benefit agent, (d) a porous second electrode layer spanning the opening of each microcell, and (e) a voltage source that is coupled to the first electrode layer and the porous second electrode layer, wherein the first electrode layer, the microcell layer, and the porous second electrode layer are vertically stacked upon each other;
applying an electric field across a microcell via the voltage source that causes an increase in the rate of release of the benefit agent of the microcell through the porous second electrode layer by more than 10% compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer before the application of the electric field.