# US 2021/0330952 A1 · Microneedle Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330952 A1 - Document ID: US20210330952A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/235,982 - Filed: 2021-04-21 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-28 - Assignees: Ticona LLC - Applicants: Ticona LLC - Inventors: Young Shin Kim; Camilo Cano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330952A1 ## CPC - A61M 37/0015: {by using microneedles} - A61B 5/14514: {using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/14546: {for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes} - A61B 5/1486: using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase - A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid} - A61B 5/150984: {Microneedles or microblades} - A61B 5/157: {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood - A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication} - A61B 5/685: {Microneedles} - A61B 17/205: {Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices} - A61K 9/0021: {Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays or needleless injectors} - A61K 39/215: Coronaviridae, e.g. avian infectious bronchitis virus - C08K 3/013: Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives - C08K 3/34: Silicon-containing compounds - C08K 3/346: {Clay} - C08L 27/18: Homopolymers or copolymers or tetrafluoroethene - C08L 67/00: Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain (of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C09K 19/3809: {Polyesters; Polyester derivatives, e.g. polyamides} - C09K 19/3838: {Polyesters; Polyester derivatives} - G01N 33/49: Blood {(chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80)} - A61B 2562/046: in a matrix array - A61B 2562/12: Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements - A61K 39/00: Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies (materials for immunoassay G01N33/53) - A61M 2037/0023: {Drug applicators using microneedles} - A61M 2037/0046: {Solid microneedles} - A61M 2037/0061: {Methods for using microneedles} - A61M 2202/30: Vaccines - 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 35/00: Methods or apparatus for measurement or analysis of nanostructures - C08K 2201/005: Additives being defined by their particle size in general - 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) - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES ## Abstract A microneedle assembly that is capable of transdermal delivery of a drug compound, such as a vaccine, (e.g., vaccine) across a dermal barrier of a subject (e.g., human), and/or detecting the presence of an analyte in the subject is provided. The microneedle assembly comprises a plurality of microneedles arranged on a support that each contain a tip and base, one or both of which are formed from a polymer composition that includes a liquid crystalline polymer. By selectively controlling the specific components of the polymer composition, as well as their relative concentration, the resulting microneedles may exhibit a high degree of physical alignment, which can help ensure better performance during use of the microneedle assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microneedle assembly comprising an array of microneedles being arranged in at least one predetermined geometric pattern on a support, wherein the microneedles contain a base that includes a lower portion positioned in proximity to the support and an opposing upper portion extending from the lower portion in a longitudinal direction, wherein a tip extends from the upper portion of the base in the longitudinal direction and terminates at an edge, the tip, the base, or a combination thereof include a polymer composition containing a liquid crystalline polymer, and wherein a centerline extends through the base in the longitudinal direction, and further wherein the microneedles exhibit an offset factor, k, of about 20 or less as determined according to the following equation: k=O/((L1+L2)/D) wherein, O is a distance that the edge of the tip is offset from the centerline in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; L1 is a length of the tip; L2 is a length of the base; and D is a width of the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance O is about 100 micrometers or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip has a length of from about 5 to about 500 nanometers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip has a width of from about 0.5 to about 5 micrometers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the base has a length of from about 10 to about 1,000 nanometers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the base has a width of from about 5 to about 100 micrometers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the microneedles have a length of from about 10 to about 1,200 nanometers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip is offset from the predetermined geometric pattern by a distance of only about 100 micrometers or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geometric pattern is a first line that extends in a first direction, wherein the tip of the microneedles in the first line is offset from the first line by a distance of only about 100 micrometers or less in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The microneedle assembly of claim 9, wherein the array includes a second line that extends in the second direction, wherein the tip of the microneedles in the second line is offset from the second line by a distance of only about 100 micrometers or less in the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the edge of the tip is oriented at an angle of about 15 degrees or less relative to the centerline. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a melt viscosity of about 100 Pa-s or less as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443:2014 at a shear rate of 1,000 seconds−1 and temperature of about 30° C. above the melting temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a melting temperature of about 280° C. or more. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a tensile elongation of about 5% or less as determined at in accordance with ISO Test No. 527:2012 at a temperature of about 23° C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a deflection temperature under load of about 160° C. or more as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 75-2:2013 at a load of 1.8 Megapascals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The microneedle assembly of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the deflection temperature under load to the melting temperature is from about 0.5 to about 1.00. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a tensile modulus of about 7,000 MPa or more as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 527:2012 at a temperature of about 23° C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from one or more aromatic dicarboxylic acids, one or more aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The microneedle assembly of claim 18, wherein the aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids include 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The microneedle assembly of claim 18, wherein the aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acids include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The microneedle assembly of claim 20, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer further contains repeating units derived from one or more aromatic diols. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The microneedle assembly of claim 21, wherein the aromatic diols include hydroquinone, 4,4′-biphenol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer is wholly aromatic. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid in an amount of about 30 mol. % or more. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein liquid crystalline polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 99 wt. % of the polymer composition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition further comprises a mineral filler. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The microneedle assembly of claim 27, wherein the mineral filler is in the form of particles. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The microneedle assembly of claim 28, wherein the particles have a median size of about 10 micrometers or less. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The microneedle assembly of claim 28, wherein the particles have a median size of from about 0.6 to about 2.5 micrometers. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The microneedle assembly of claim 28, wherein the particles include talc. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition further comprises a tribological additive material. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The microneedle assembly of claim 32, wherein the tribological additive material includes a fluoropolymer. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes the polymer composition. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip includes polymer composition. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The microneedle assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is configured to deliver a drug compound. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The microneedle assembly of claim 36, wherein the drug compound includes a proteinaceous compound, polynucleotide agent, vaccine, small molecule agent, anti-infection agent, hormone, drug regulating cardiac action or blood flow, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The microneedle assembly of claim 36, wherein the drug compound has a molecular weight of about 1 kDa or more. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The microneedle assembly of claim 36, wherein the drug compound includes a viral vaccine antigen. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The microneedle assembly of claim 39, wherein the vaccine antigen is a coronavirus vaccine antigen. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The microneedle assembly of claim 39, wherein the vaccine antigen is a viral vector, live attenuated virus, or an inactivated virus. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The microneedle assembly of claim 39, wherein the viral vaccine antigen includes mRNA-1273, BNT162, Ad5-nCoV, ChAdOx1, bacTRL-Spike, BCG, AdCovid, NVX-CoV2373, LV-SMENP, SARS recombinant spike protein plus delta inulin, SARS VLPs S protein and influenza M1 protein, DNA vaccine VRC-SRSDNA015-00-VP, VEEV replicon particles expressing the SARS-CoV S, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus or viral vector, live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 virus, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The microneedle assembly of claim 39, wherein the viral vaccine antigen is derived from and/or used for prophylaxis against adenoviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, flavirviruses, hantaviruses, hepadnaviruses, herpesviruses, papilomaviruses, paramyxoviruses, parvoviruses, picornaviruses, poxviruses, orthomyxoviruses, retroviruses, reoviruses, rhabdoviruses, rotaviruses, spongiform viruses, togaviruses, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The microneedle assembly of claim 36, wherein the drug compound is coated onto a surface of the microneedles. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The microneedle assembly of claim 44, wherein the microneedles are solid. ### Claim 46 (depends on 36) The microneedle assembly of claim 36, wherein the microneedles contain at least one channel through which the drug compound is capable of flowing. ### Claim 47 (depends on 36) A method for delivering a drug compound to a subject, the method comprising: placing the transdermal delivery device of claim 36 adjacent to the skin of a subject; penetrating a stratum corneum of the skin with the microneedles; and transporting the drug compound from the microneedles and across the stratum corneum. ### Claim 48 (depends on 1) A method for detecting an analyte in a subject, the method comprising: placing the transdermal delivery device of claim 1 adjacent to the skin of a subject; penetrating a stratum corneum of the skin with the microneedles so that the microneedle contacts a bodily fluid of the subject; and detecting the presence of an analyte within the bodily fluid. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the bodily fluid is blood. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the analyte is detected on a surface of the microneedle. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the microneedles are solid. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the analyte is glucose. ### Claim 53 (depends on 48) The method of claim 48, wherein the bodily fluid is withdrawn from the subject through the microneedles.