# US 2013/0158377 A1 · Drug Delivery and Substance Transfer Facilitated by Nano-Enhanced Device Having Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Protruding from Device Surface

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- Number: US 2013/0158377 A1
- Document ID: US20130158377A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/762,197
- Filed: 2013-02-07
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-10
- Assignees: California Institute of Technology
- Inventors: Morteza Gharib; Adrianus I. Aria; Elijah Bodhi Sansom
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158377A1

## CPC

- A61M 37/0015: {by using microneedles}
- A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement}
- A61K 47/6957: {the form being a device or a kit, e.g. stents or microdevices}
- A61L 27/443: {with carbon fillers}
- A61L 27/54: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L27/227 takes precedence)}
- A61L 27/56: Porous materials, {e.g. foams or sponges}
- A61M 5/44: having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
- A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty}
- A61M 37/0092: {using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis}
- A61N 1/306: {Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body}
- A61N 5/062: {Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent}
- B29C 70/64: the filler influencing the surface characteristics of the material, e.g. by concentrating near the surface or by incorporating in the surface by force
- B82Y 5/00: Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- C01B 32/15: Nano-sized carbon materials
- A61L 2300/258: Genetic materials, DNA, RNA, genes, vectors, e.g. plasmids
- A61L 2300/416: Anti-neoplastic or anti-proliferative or anti-restenosis or anti-angiogenic agents, e.g. paclitaxel, sirolimus
- A61L 2300/602: Type of release, e.g. controlled, sustained, slow
- A61L 2300/606: Coatings
- A61L 2400/12: Nanosized materials, e.g. nanofibres, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes; Nanostructured surfaces
- A61M 2037/0023: {Drug applicators using microneedles}
- A61M 2037/0053: {Methods for producing microneedles}
- A61M 2037/0061: {Methods for using microneedles}
- B29K 2105/162: {Nanoparticles}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a nano-enhanced device for substance transfer between the device and a tissue. The device comprises a substrate with substantially aligned carbon nanotubes anchored within the substrate, and with at least one end of the carbon nanotubes protruding from the substrate. The protruding nanotube ends may be coated with a drug for delivery of the drug into body tissue. The present invention may be incorporated into an angioplasty catheter balloon or into a patch that is worn on the skin. The carbon nanotubes can be grouped in clusters to effectively form nano-needles which can transfer fluid to or from the subdermal tissue. The nano-needles can be used in conjunction with a sensor to ascertain body fluid information such as pH, glucose level, etc.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nano-enhanced device for substance transfer between the device and a tissue, comprising:
a substrate; and
an array of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes having two ends, the carbon nanotubes being anchored within the substrate with at least one end protruding from the substrate, whereby the protruding carbon nanotubes enhance the substance transfer capabilities of the device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube array is coated with a substance selected from the group consisting of a drug and a gene.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotubes have side walls and where the nanotube array contains free spaces between the carbon nanotubes, and where the protruding ends of the anchored carbon nanotubes are free of coated substance and the substance coating area consists of an area selected from the group consisting of side walls of the carbon nanotubes and free spaces between the carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a patch to be worn on the tissue and an angioplasty balloon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the drug is paclitaxel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein delivery of the drug from the device to the tissue is enhanced by connection with a drug delivery enhancement device capable of performing an enhancement act selected from the group consisting of direct or indirect heating of at least a portion of the carbon nanotube array, passage of electrical current through at least a portion of the carbon nanotube array, laser or other optical stimulation of at least a portion of the carbon nanotube array, ultrasonic waves on at least a portion of the carbon nanotube array, mechanical vibration of at least a portion of the carbon nanotube array, and modifying the hydrophobicity of the nanotube array during fabrication.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the drug delivery enhancement device executes the enhancement act at a time selected from the group consisting of instantly and according to a timed sequence.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are arranged in one or more clusters, such that each cluster effectively functions as a needle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the substrate comprises a porous material, whereby substances may be transferred to or from the device and the tissue via inherent capillary action of the carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the porous substrate material is loaded with a substance to be transferred to the tissue via the carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the carbon nanotube clusters are patterned in a manner such that they are electrically isolated from one another, and where the device further comprises a sensor for reading electrical potentials of the nanotube clusters.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotubes have inherent electrical conductivity, and where the inherent electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotubes is modified by treatment of the carbon nanotubes with a pre-coated chemical.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein a subset of the carbon nanotube clusters is treated with glucose oxidase, and another subset of the carbon nanotubes is treated with ferric cyanide, whereby conduction through the blood may be achieved and allows for measurement of the blood-glucose level.