Articles of manufacture releasing an active ingredient

A formulation for applying an active agent to a living subject, the formulation comprising a plurality of hydrophobic microparticles, the hydrophobic microparticles having electrostatically uncharged outer surfaces, and the hydrophobic microparticles and the electrostatically uncharged outer surfaces of the hydrophobic microparticles including a non-crosslinked carrier material throughout which is dispersed the active ingredient, wherein the non-crosslinked carrier material includes one or more of a lipid, a fatty acid, a phospholipid, a wax, a sterol, and a glyceride, wherein an activity, temperature, pH, or any combination thereof of the living subject triggers progressive erosion of the electrostatically uncharged outer surfaces of the hydrophobic microparticles so as to release the non-crosslinked carrier material and the active ingredient for transfer to the living subject, and wherein when the formulation is applied to an article, the article is configured to place the electrostatically uncharged outer surfaces of the hydrophobic microparticles into contact with the living subject.