Techniques for release of material into an environment

Abstract

Systems and methods for releasing a material into an environment. The material may be encapsulated in a receptacle or otherwise packaged for movement into the environment. The receptacle with the material inside is introduced into the environment. A triggering causes release of the material from the receptacle into the environment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of targeted medication delivery, comprising the steps of:
 providing a capsule;   providing medication in said capsule;   providing a shell on said capsule wherein said medication is contained in said capsule inside said shell and wherein said shell is made of a material that can be made permeable by light;   introducing said capsule, said medication in said capsule, and said shell made of a material that can be made permeable by light to an internal organ of a patient; and   directing light to said capsule and said shell made of a material that can be made permeable by light thereby making said shell permeable and releasing said medication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of targeted medication delivery of  claim 1  wherein said shell made of a material that can be made permeable by light is made of a hydrophobic material that becomes hydrophilic upon exposure to light. 
     
     
         3 . The method of targeted medication delivery of  claim 1  wherein said hydrophobic material that becomes hydrophilic upon exposure to light is hydrophobic poly 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl acrylate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of targeted medication delivery of  claim 1  wherein said shell made of a material that can be made permeable by light is made of tert-butyl carbonate of p-toluenesulfonic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of targeted medication delivery of  claim 1  wherein said shell made of a material that can be made permeable by light is made of 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzy ester of para-toluenesulfonic acid.