Patent ID: 9586044
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: A61K,A61M,A61N

Claim:
1. A method for increasing the permeability of a cellular layer that comprises epithelial cells, the method comprising: contacting the cellular layer with a microneedle, the microneedle including a plurality of nanostructures and microstructures formed on an external surface thereof in a predetermined pattern, wherein at least a portion of the microstructures have a cross-sectional dimension of greater than about 500 nanometers and less than about 10 micrometers and a height of from about 20 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, the cross-sectional dimension of the microstructures being greater than the height of the microstructures, wherein at least a portion of the nanostructures having a cross-sectional dimension of from about 5 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, wherein subsequent to contact between the cellular layer and the microneedle, the cellular layer exhibits increased permeability to the drug compound.