Dissolvable microneedle arrays for transdermal delivery to human skin

摘要

A method of forming a microneedle array can include forming a sheet of material having a plurality of layers and micromilling the sheet of material to form a microneedle array. At least one of the plurality of layers can include a bioactive component, and the microneedle array can include a base portion and plurality of microneedles extending from the base portion.

主权项

1. A dissolvable microneedle array comprising:
a base portion; and a plurality of microneedles, the microneedles extending from a surface of the base portion and being pre-formed to have a shape that comprises a first cross-sectional dimension at a top portion, a second cross-sectional dimension at a bottom portion, and a third cross-sectional dimension at an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion is located between the top portion and the bottom portion, and the third cross-sectional dimension is greater than the first and second cross-sectional dimensions, such that the bottom portion tapers inward on all sides to the second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the respective microneedles of the plurality of microneedles extend from a base surface that surrounds the respective microneedles, and wherein at least the top portion comprises a bioactive component, wherein respective microneedles generally taper from the intermediate portion to a point above the intermediate portion and generally taper from the intermediate portion to a smaller cross-sectional dimension adjacent an area where the microneedle contacts the base portion, wherein each microneedle defines a vertically-layered, laminated structure with the portion of the microneedle comprising the bioactive component forming a bioactive layer that is parallel to the base portion.