Microneedle patches for transdermal delivery

Abstract

Embodiment provided herein are directed to microneedle patches for agent application on a mammal skin. The microneedle patch may comprise a patch scaffold having a surface, and a plurality of microneedles disposed on the surface. Each of the microneedles may be capable of piercing the skin 50 μm to 1000 μm deep, and comprises a composite material comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and one or more additional copolymers selected from the group consisting of maltose, leucine, and dileucine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microneedle patch comprising:
 a patch scaffold having a surface;   a plurality of microneedles disposed on the surface, wherein:
 each microneedle of the plurality of microneedles is capable of piercing skin and being associated with an agent; 
 the plurality of microneedles is arranged into at least two groups on the surface; and 
 microneedles in the first group are associated with a first agent and microneedles in the second group are associated with a second agent; and 
   a detector layer disposed within the patch scaffold, wherein the detector layer includes at least two sensors configured to detect changes in areas of the skin corresponding to the first group of microneedles and the second group of microneedles upon application of the microneedle patch.   
     
     
         2 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors are image sensors configured to capture images of the areas of the skin corresponding to the first group of microneedles and the second group of microneedles. 
     
     
         3 . The microneedle patch of  claim 2 , wherein the images are infrared images. 
     
     
         4 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors are temperature sensors configured to measure temperatures of the areas of the skin corresponding to the first group of microneedles and the second group of microneedles. 
     
     
         5 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors include one image sensor and one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the first agent comprises at least one of an antigen, a cosmetic preparation, a drug, or a vaccine. 
     
     
         7 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the second agent comprises at least one of an antigen, a cosmetic preparation, a drug, or a vaccine. 
     
     
         8 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the first agent and the second agent are same agents. 
     
     
         9 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein the first agent and the second agent are different agents. 
     
     
         10 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pedestal on the surface for adhesion to the skin.   
     
     
         11 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein each microneedle of the plurality of microneedles is dissolvable to deliver the associated agent through the skin upon application. 
     
     
         12 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein each microneedle of the plurality of microneedles comprises a composite material comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and one or more additional copolymers selected from a group consisting of maltose, leucine, and dileucine. 
     
     
         13 . The microneedle patch of  claim 12 , wherein the composite material comprises about 70-90 wt. % PVP. 
     
     
         14 . The microneedle patch of  claim 12 , wherein the first agent and the second agent are dispersed uniformly within the composite material. 
     
     
         15 . The microneedle patch of  claim 12 , wherein the first agent and the second agent are dispersed as a gradient within the composite material. 
     
     
         16 . The microneedle patch of  claim 1 , wherein each microneedle of the plurality of microneedles comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         17 . The microneedle patch of  claim 16 , wherein each layer of the plurality of layers is associated with different agents. 
     
     
         18 . The microneedle patch of  claim 16 , wherein each layer of the plurality of layers is associated with different concentrations of a same agent. 
     
     
         19 . A method of determining an immune response comprising:
 applying the microneedle patch of  claim 1  on mammalian skin; and   monitoring skin temperature to determine whether the first agent or the second agent of the microneedle patch of  claim 1  is causing the immune response.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immune response corresponds to an increase in the skin temperature.