Systems for producing multilayered particles, fibers and sprays and methods for administering the same

Abstract

Capsules and particles with at least one encapsulated and/or entrapped agent, such as therapeutic agent, imaging agents, and other constituents may be produced by electrohydrodynamic processes. More particularly, the agent encapsulated in a vehicle, capsule, particle, vector, or carrier may maximize treatment and/or imaging of malignant cancers while minimizing the adverse effects of treatment and/or imaging.

1 . An electrohydrodynamic system for producing a capsule having at least one encapsulated agent, the system comprising:
 a hollow tube having an external wall and an interior configured to receive a core fluid, the hollow tube having an open discharge end configured to deliver the core fluid therethrough;   a shell liquid source for delivering a shell liquid to the external wall of the hollow tube such that the open discharge end of the hollow tube is not surrounded by the shell liquid source;   a core fluid supply tube arranged to supply the core fluid to the interior of the hollow tube;   a shell liquid supply tube arranged to supply a shell liquid to the shell liquid source;   a collector electrode positioned above the shell liquid source configured to collect the produced capsules; and   an electric potential source to subject the core fluid and the shell liquid to an electric potential to cause the core fluid and shell liquid to form a jet including an at least two-fluid electrically charged fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The electrohydrodynamic system of  claim 1  further comprising an extractor body positioned between the shell liquid source and the collector electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the core fluid comprises at least one of a therapeutic agent and an imaging agent. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a plurality of hollow tubes, the plurality of hollow tubes being located adjacent each other and forming a shape. 
     
     
         5 . An agent comprising the capsule formed in the electrohydrodynamic system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A method for fabricating a capsule having a core region and a shell region, the method comprising:
 delivering a core fluid comprising at least one of a therapeutic agent and an imaging agent from a core fluid source through an open discharge end of at least one hollow tube;   delivering a shell liquid from a shell liquid source to an external wall of the at least one hollow tube such that the open discharge ends of each of the at least one hollow tubes is not surrounded by the shell liquid source;   subjecting the core fluid and the shell fluid to an electric potential remote from the open discharge ends of each of the at least one hollow tubes to cause the core fluid and shell liquid to form a jet including an at least two-fluid electrically charged fluid;   processing the jet into a shape to form the capsule; and   collecting the formed capsules on a collector.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the core fluid and the shell fluid is subjected to an applied voltage ranging from 0.5 kV to 35 kV to form the jet including the at least two-fluid electrically charged fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising positioning an extractor between the open discharge ends of each of the at least one hollow tubes and the collector to aid in the formation of the at least two-fluid electrically charged fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said therapeutic agent is utilized for the treatment of malignant cancers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of chemically or physically grafting a functional group on the surface of the shell region of the capsule. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is an entity selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, amino groups, carboxyl groups, carboxylic acid anhydride groups, mercapto groups, hydrosilicon groups, thio groups, carboxylic groups, amine groups, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of kinase receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptor, EGF, TGF, VEGF-A, urokinase receptor, interleukin-receptor, retinoic acid receptor, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, HB-EGF, amphiregulin, epireguin, neuregulins, and functional equivalents thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the functional group has a content in the range of up to about 1 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is capable of chemically or physically attaching to glioma cells. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is epidermal growth factor and a functional equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the functional group has a content on the capsule in the range of up to about 0.02 wt %. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is capable of chemically or physically attaching to breast cancer cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the functional group is capable of chemically or physically attaching to at least one of lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia cancer cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one hollow tube comprises a plurality of hollow tubes located adjacent to one another and forming a shape. 
     
     
         20 . A capsule formed according to the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled)