Microneedle, microneedle patch, method of manufacture and method of use thereof
AssigneeCity University of Hong Kong
InventorsChenjie Xu, Tianli Hu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microneedle includes a base and a tip distal from the base, the microneedle being formed with an anisotropic porous composition including a plurality of channels extending in a substantially uniform direction through the microneedle from a base surface towards an outer surface defined by the tip, and the plurality of channels being adapted to enable flow of a fluid therein.
Claims53
A microneedle comprising a base and a tip distal from the base, wherein the microneedle is formed with an anisotropic porous composition comprising a plurality of channels extending in a substantially uniform direction through the microneedle from a base surface towards an outer surface defined by the tip, and wherein the plurality of channels are adapted to enable flow of a fluid therein.
A method of manufacturing a microneedle, comprising the steps of:
- (i) casting a pre-polymer solution comprising a plurality of monomers into a mold defined with at least a recess shaped in a microneedle structure, wherein the microneedle structure comprising a base and a tip distal from the base;
- (ii) freezing the pre-polymer solution with a temperature gradient across the mold;
- (iii) cross-linking the plurality of monomers to form a cross-linked polymer matrix;
- (iv) lyophilising the cross-linked polymer matrix to form an anisotropic porous composition defined with the microneedle structure, wherein the anisotropic porous composition comprising a plurality of channels extending in a substantially uniform direction through the anisotropic porous composition from a base surface towards the outer surface of defined by the tip;
- and
- (v) removing the anisotropic porous composition from the mold.
The method according to 23, wherein the cooling element is in form of a cooling bath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.