MICRODEVICES COMPRISING NANOCAPSULES FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF DRUGS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

摘要

This application relates to a microdevice for delivering drugs to a target location. The microdevice comprises a plurality of nanocapsules assembled together, each having an outer hydrophobic shell and an inner liquid core contained within the shell. At least one drug is dissolved within the inner liquid core. The liquid core comprises a mixture of solvents including at least one solvent for maintaining the hydrophilicity of the inner core (and hence the phase difference between the polymeric shell and the liquid core) and at least one second solvent for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of the drug. For example, the second solvent may be selected to enable a hydrophobic drug to dissolve within the hydrophilic inner core environment. The inner core may also include a small amount of water-soluble polymer. The application also relates to a method of making the microdevices by formulating a homogenous emulsified solution containing the drug and forming the nanocapsules from the emulsified solution, such as by an atomization process.