Microneedle and method for manufacturing microneedle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016136408-A1
Application number	US-201615003366-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A microneedle includes a substrate, and projections which extend from a surface of the substrate. Each of the projections includes layers separated from each other in a direction in which the projection extends. The layers include a first layer which contains a polymer which is soluble in water and poorly soluble in oil and a second layer which contains a polymer that is soluble in oil. The first layer and the second layer are adjacent to each other and are formed in the order of the first layer and the second layer from the projection to the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A microneedle, comprising:
a substrate; and a plurality of projections which extend from a surface of the substrate, wherein each of the projections has a plurality of layers separated from each other in a direction in which the projection extends, the layers include a first layer and a second layer which are adjacent to each other and formed in an order of the first layer and the second layer from the projection to the substrate, the first layer includes a polymer which is soluble in water and poorly soluble in oil, and the second layer includes a polymer soluble in oil.

2 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer included in the second layer is poorly soluble in water.

3 . The microneedle according to claim 2 , wherein the layers further include a third layer which includes a polymer which is soluble in water, and the second layer is interposed between the first layer and the third layer.

4 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer included in the first layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, chitosan salt, chitosan succinamide, alginate, pullulan, dextran and chondroitin sulfate.

5 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer included in the second layer is ethyl cellulose.

6 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer included in the second layer is propyl cellulose.

7 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer included in the second layer is polylactic acid.

8 . The microneedle according to claim 1 , wherein the projection is capable of piercing a target, and the first layer further includes a substance to be delivered to an outside of the projection.

9 . A method for manufacturing the microneedle of claim 1 , comprising:
supplying a first solution into a mold; solidifying the first solution such that a first layer is formed; supplying a second solution onto the first layer in the mold; and solidifying the second solution such that a second layer is formed, wherein the first solution comprises a first material dissolved in water, the first material includes a polymer which is soluble in water and poorly soluble in oil, the second solution comprises a second material dissolved in an organic solvent, and the second material includes a polymer soluble in oil.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the polymer included in the second layer is poorly soluble in water.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
supplying a third solution onto the second layer in the mold; and solidifying the third solution such that a third layer is formed, wherein the third solution comprises a third material dissolved in water, and the third material includes a polymer which is soluble in water and poorly soluble in oil.

Assignees

• Toppan Printing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kato Hiroyuki

Classifications

• B29L2031/756

  Microarticles, nanoarticles · CPC title

• A61M2037/0053

  Methods for producing microneedles · CPC title

• B29K2995/0062

  water-soluble · CPC title

• B29C39/025

  for making multilayered articles · CPC title

• A61M2037/0023

  Drug applicators using microneedles · CPC title