Liquid Vehicle for Suspension of Undelivered Particles

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions comprising energy (e.g., light) absorbing submicron particles (e.g., nanoparticles comprising a silica core and a gold shell) and methods for delivering such particles via topical application. This delivery is facilitated by application of mechanical agitation (e.g. massage), acoustic vibration in the range of 10 Hz-20 kHz, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, and microjets. Additionally or optionally, there is a step of applying a sufficient amount of a liquid to the treatment area after substantial evaporation of the formulation leaves a particle residue on the skin surface. Thereafter, one or more steps of facilitating delivery of particles into a portion of the skin are repeated. Finally, the particles are exposed to a suitable energy activation, thereby providing the desired treatment or clinical outcome.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of treating a skin condition in a subject, the method comprising:
 a) topically applying a formulation comprising sub-micron particles comprising a light absorbing material to the subject's skin;   b) facilitating delivery of said material into a skin structure by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, or microjets;   c) applying a sufficient amount of a liquid to the treatment area after substantial evaporation of the formulation leaves a particle residue on the skin surface; and   d) repeating the facilitating step to the portion of the skin treated in the applying step.   
     
     
         38 . A method of treating a skin condition in a subject, the method comprising:
 a) topically applying a formulation comprising sub-micron particles comprising a light absorbing material to the subject's skin;   b) facilitating delivery of said material into a skin structure by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, or microjets;   c) at least about forty-five seconds after facilitating delivery of said material into said skin structure; applying a volume of a delivery liquid to the treatment area in a manner effective to move sub-micron particles from the subject's skin surface into said skin structure.   
     
     
         39 . A method of treating a skin condition in a subject, the method comprising:
 a) topically applying sub-micron particles comprising a light absorbing material to the subject's skin;   b) delivering said sub-micron particles into a skin structure by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, or microjets;   c) applying a liquid to the treatment area in a manner effective to move sub-micron particles from the subject's skin surface into said skin structure.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said skin structure comprises at least one member of the group consisting of a hair follicle, a sebaceous gland, a sebaceous gland duct, an infundibulum, an eccrine gland, an eccrine gland duct, an apocrine gland, and an apocrine gland duct. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said skin condition consists of at least one of the group consisting of follicular skin disease; hyperhidrosis; enlarged pore appearance; oily skin; and unwanted hair. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising: exposing said sub-micron particles to energy activation, thereby treating the skin condition in the subject. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the liquid in the applying step is substantially the same as the formulation without the sub-micron particles. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37  wherein delivery of said material into the skin structure is facilitated by ultrasound-created microjets within the formulation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein exposing said sub-micron particles to energy activation comprises irradiating said sub-micron particle. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the hair follicle is a terminal follicle, a vellus follicle, or a sebaceous follicle. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the sub-micron particle size is between about 0.01 microns to about 1.0 microns. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the sub-micron particle size is between about 0.05 to about 0.25 microns. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the facilitating step further comprises selecting characteristics for the ultrasound-created microjets to create bubbles in the formulation about the same size as the hair follicle pore. 
     
     
         50 . A method of treating a skin condition in a subject, the method comprising:
 a) topically applying sub-micron particles comprising a light absorbing material to the subject's skin;   b) delivering said sub-micron particles into a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, sebaceous gland duct, or infundibulum of the skin by mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, or microjets; and   c) applying a liquid to the treatment area in a manner effective to move sub-micron particles from the subject's skin surface into a follicle.