DRUG DELIVERY ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A MICROPROJECTION FOR EXTENDED DRUG DELIVERY
A drug delivery assembly having: a housing having an outer wall, the outer wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer wall extends axially from a first end to a second end and defines a compartment configured to store a first drug; an opening in the housing, the opening positioned at the second end of the housing, with the opening in fluid communication with an area that is external to the housing; a first porous membrane positioned at the opening, wherein the outer wall and the first porous member define at least a part of an exterior of the assembly; and microprojections attached to the exterior of the assembly and configured to deliver a second drug to the area, wherein the second drug is the same as or different from the first drug.
1 . A drug delivery assembly comprising:
a housing having an outer wall, the outer wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer wall extends axially from a first end to a second end and defines a compartment configured to store a first drug;
an opening in the housing, the opening positioned at the second end of the housing, with the opening in fluid communication with an area that is external to the housing;
a first porous membrane positioned at the opening, wherein the outer wall and the first porous member define at least a part of an exterior of the assembly; and
microprojections attached to the exterior of the assembly and configured to deliver a second drug to the area, wherein the second drug is the same as or different from the first drug.
2 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the housing defines grooves configured to promote adhesion of the assembly to tissue.
3 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first microprojection is organic.
4 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compartment includes the first drug.
5 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first microprojection includes the second drug.
6 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the microprojection comprises a microprojection head disposed against the exterior of the assembly, wherein the microprojection head is configured to deliver the second drug to surrounding tissue.
7 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the microprojection head is configured to dissolve to thereby deliver the second drug.
8 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the microprojection comprises a micropassage extending at least partially from the microprojection head at the exterior of the assembly toward the compartment.
9 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein the micropassage comprises a microneedle.
10 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein the micropassage comprises a microchannel.
11 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the microprojection head is disposed against the outer surface of the outer wall.
12 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein
the outer wall is porous and the micropassage extends from the outer surface of the outer wall partially toward the inner surface of the outer wall.
13 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 8 , wherein
the outer wall is nonporous and the micropassage extends from the outer surface of the outer wall to the inner surface of the outer wall.
14 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the microprojection head is disposed against the porous membrane.
15 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein
one or more of the microprojections includes the second drug and another one or more of the microprojections includes a third drug that differs from the second drug.
16 . The drug delivery assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the first end of the housing comprises a septum or a second porous membrane.
17 . A method of attaching microprojections to a housing of an implantable drug delivery assembly, comprising:
filling the microprojections with a drug;
applying the microprojections to the implantable drug delivery assembly; and
integrating the microprojections with the assembly.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein
applying the microprojections to the implantable drug delivery assembly includes one or more of: applying the microprojections to the axial outer wall of the housing that is porous or solid; or applying the microprojections to porous media secured to the axial end of the housing.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein integrating the microprojections with the assembly includes chemically bonding the microprojections to the assembly.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein chemically bonding the microprojections to the assembly includes applying a self-assembled monolayer to the assembly to improve wetting of the microprojections so that the microprojections adhere to, and precipitate on, the assembly.