DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES, METHODS OF PRODUCING DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES, AND METHODS OF USING DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES

1 . A method of producing a capsule, the method comprising:

providing a mold;

depositing parylene on the mold to form a parylene layer;

scoring the parylene layer; and

coating the parylene layer with a polymer to produce a capsule.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising polishing a surface of the mold to ease release of the capsule.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a release agent on the mold before depositing the parylene layer, and wherein the release agent is Micro90.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein scoring the parylene layer comprises cutting the parylene layer to form a pattern on opposing sides of the capsule.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating an outer surface of the parylene layer with oxygen plasma prior to coating with the polymer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the parylene layer ranges from 0.5 μm to 30 μm, and wherein a thickness of the polymer layer ranges from 100 μm to 250 μm.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the parylene layer comprises chemical vapor deposition of parylene on the mold.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the parylene layer comprises: depositing, in a first deposition step, parylene on the mold to produce a primer layer;

treating the primer layer with a release agent; and depositing, in a second deposition step, parylene on the primer layer to produce the parylene layer.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an enteric coating on the polymer layer, wherein the enteric coating comprises anionic methacrylate copolymer, talc, and plasticizer, and wherein a weight ratio of talc to anionic methacrylate copolymer ranges from 0.5:1 to 10:1.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising encapsulating a needle delivery system in the capsule.

12 . A capsule comprising:

a first layer comprising parylene;

a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer comprising a polymer; and

a third layer adjacent the second layer, the third layer comprising an enteric coating.

13 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein the first layer is scored to form a bi-fold pattern on opposing sides of the capsule.

14 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the parylene layer ranges from 0.5 μm to 30 μm.

15 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of layers, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers comprises polyvinyl alcohol, and wherein the second layer has a thickness from 100 μm to 250 μm.

16 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein the polymer comprises one or more of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, pullulan, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

17 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein the enteric coating comprises anionic methacrylate copolymer, talc, and plasticizer, wherein talc comprises 40 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the enteric coating, based on the total weight of the enteric coating, and wherein the anionic methacrylate copolymer comprises 20 wt. % to 60 wt. % of the enteric coating, based on the total weight of the enteric coating.

18 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein the capsule does not comprise pullulan or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

19 . The capsule of claim 12 , further comprising a fourth layer comprising anionic methacrylate copolymer and plasticizer.

20 . The capsule of claim 12 , wherein:

the polymer of the second layer comprises polyvinyl alcohol;

the enteric coating comprises anionic methacrylate copolymer, talc, and plasticizer; and

a fourth layer comprises anionic methacrylate copolymer and a plasticizer.