# US 8,541,028 B2 · Methods for manufacturing delivery devices and devices thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,028 B2 - Document ID: US8541028B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/196,591 - Filed: 2005-08-03 - Published: 2006-02-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-04 - Assignees: Evonik Corporation - Applicants: Jay K. Staas; Thomas R. Tice; Bruce W. Hudson; Arthur J. Tipton - Inventors: Jay K. Staas; Thomas R. Tice; Bruce W. Hudson; Arthur J. Tipton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541028B2 ## CPC - A61L 31/06: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds {(A61L31/041 takes precedence)} - A61K 9/0024: {Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue (compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L)} - A61K 9/2027: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates} - A61K 9/204: {Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)} - A61L 27/34: Macromolecular materials - A61L 27/54: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L27/227 takes precedence)} - A61L 31/048: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds (A61L31/041 takes precedence)} - A61L 31/10: Macromolecular materials - A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)} - A61L 2300/606: Coatings - 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) - 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) ## Abstract Described herein are methods for reducing and achieving the desired release of an agent from a delivery system. The desired release kinetics are achieved by exposing the surface of the delivery system with a fluid for a desired period of time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for preparing a device comprising an agent, comprising (a) admixing at least one polymer and at least one agent to produce an admixture; (b) processing the admixture to produce a device of a desired shape, wherein the device comprises at least two exposed surfaces; and (c) contacting the device with a sufficient amount of a fluid for a sufficient time to change the surface morphology of the polymer; wherein the fluid diffuses into the outer layer of the polymer to gel the polymer thereby producing a smoother surface coating on the device, wherein at least one exposed surface or least one part of at least one exposed surface of the device is not contacted with the fluid; wherein steps (a) and (b) do not involve the use of a solvent; and wherein the fluid consists essentially of methylene chloride, chloroform, acetone, anisole, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone, hexafluoroisopropanol, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, 2-pyrollidone, triethyl citrate, ethyl lactate, propylene carbonate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, Miglyol 810, isopropanol, ethanol, super critical carbon dioxide, or acetonitrile, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least two exposed surfaces of the device are not contacted with the fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein two exposed surfaces of the device are not contacted with the fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a rod, a fiber, a disc, a wafer, a bead, a ribbon, or a cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a rod comprising two ends and a longitudinal surface, wherein the ends of the rod are not contacted with the fluid, and wherein the longitudinal surface is contacted with the fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a rod comprising two ends and a longitudinal surface, wherein after contacting the device with the fluid, at least one end of the rod is removed to expose an untreated end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises melt extruding, injection molding, compression molding, or roller compacting the admixture into a desired shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid consists essentially of ethyl acetate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a bioactive agent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the bioactive agent comprises a drug, an immunological agent, an antigen, a protein, a peptide, an oligonucleotide, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises an adhesive, a pesticide, a fragrance, an antifoulant, a dye, a salt, an oil, an ink, a cosmetic, a catalyst, a detergent, a curing agent, a flavor, a fuel, a herbicide, a metal, a paint, a photographic agent, a biocide, a pigment, a plasticizer, a propellant, a stabilizer, or a polymer additive, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer, wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a poly(lactide), a poly(glycolide), a poly(lactide-co-glycolide), a poly(lactic acid), a poly(glycolic acid), a poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), a poly(caprolactone), or a poly(lactide-co-caprolactone), or a combination, blend, or copolymer thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a polymer formed from components comprising 40 to 100 mole % lactide and from 0 to 60 mole % glycolide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises poly(lactide-co-glycolide), poly(lactide), poly(caprolactone), or a combination, blend, or copolymer thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein admixing step (a) comprises dry blending poly(lactide-co-glycolide), poly(lactide), or a combination, blend, or copolymer thereof, with a bioactive agent to produce an admixture, melt extruding the admixture to produce a rod, contacting the rod with ethyl acetate, and cutting the rod into one or more smaller rods having a predetermined length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device is not a sphere. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device is not a microsphere or a microparticle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a polymer of ethylene-vinyl acetate.