Benefit agent delivery system comprising reverse micelles
AssigneeE Ink Corporation
InventorsMadhuvanthi Agaram Kandadai, HongMei Zang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A benefit agent delivery system can deliver benefit agents on demand. The benefit agent delivery system comprises a first electrode layer, a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, and a porous second electrode layer. Each microcell of the plurality of microcells are filled with a liquid mixture comprising reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, an ionic surfactant, and a benefit agent. Application of an electric field on the microcell layer affects the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer.
Claims20
A benefit agent delivery system comprising:
- a first electrode layer;
- a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell including a first opening, and each microcell containing a liquid mixture;
- a porous second electrode layer spanning the first opening of each microcell;
- and
- the first electrode layer, the microcell layer, and the porous second electrode layer being vertically stacked upon each other;
- the liquid mixture comprising reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, a surfactant, and a benefit agent, the surfactant being an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant;
- and
- wherein application of a first voltage across a microcell via the first electrode layer and the porous second electrode layer having polarity that causes the migration of the reverse micelles in the microcell towards the porous second electrode increases the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer when no voltage is applied, and
- wherein application of a second voltage across a microcell via the first and second electrode layers, the second voltage having polarity opposite to the polarity of the first voltage, causes the migration of the reverse micelles in the microcell away from the porous second electrode layer and reduces the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer when no voltage is applied.
A method for operating a benefit agent delivery system comprising the steps of:
- providing a benefit agent delivery system comprising (a) a first electrode layer, (b) a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell including an opening, and each microcell containing a liquid mixture, the liquid mixture comprising reverse micelles in a hydrophobic liquid that are formed from a polar liquid, an anionic or cationic surfactant, and a benefit agent, (d) a porous second electrode layer spanning the opening of each microcell, and (e) a voltage source that is coupled to the first electrode layer and the porous second electrode layer;
- wherein the first electrode layer, the microcell layer, and the porous second electrode layer are vertically stacked upon each other;
- applying a first voltage on a microcell via the voltage source that causes the migration of the reverse micelles of the microcell towards the porous second electrode, increasing the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer when no voltage is applied;
- and
- applying a second voltage on a microcell via the voltage source, the second voltage having polarity opposite to the polarity of the first voltage, that causes the migration of the reverse micelles of the microcell away from the porous second electrode, reducing the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer compared to the rate of release of the benefit agent through the porous second electrode layer when no voltage is applied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.