Patent ID: 6328728
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: A61K,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A method of delivering a therapeutic agent from an electrotransport device through a body surface comprising the steps of:dissolving or suspending the agent and an electrotransport enhancer in a liquid solvent to provide a product, the enhancer being selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants and zwitterionic surfactants having substantially a zero net charge, wherein the agent has a hydrophobicity of t.sub.a /t.sub.m >0.7 as tested on a hydrophobic interaction column containing crosslinked agar beads attached to ligands by chemically stable ether linkages and having a particle size of 13.5 .mu.m at 32.degree. C. wherein,t.sub.a is the time at which a peak UV absorbance value occurs for a buffered solution containing the agent to flow through a hydrophobic interaction column less the time required to initially fill the column with the buffered solution containing the agent; andt.sub.m is the time at which the peak UV absorbance value occurs for a buffered solution containing N-acetyl tryptophanamide to flow through the column less the time required to initially fill the column with the N-acetyl tryptophanamide-containing buffered solution having an ionic strength of 10 mM;wherein the column has a 5 mm diameter, a 5 cm length, and a 1.0 ml volume; andwherein the beads are constructed of SUPEROSE 12 and the ether-linked ligands are represented by --O--CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 --O--R wherein R is --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 or a phenyl group;incorporating the product into a hydogel;placing the hydrogel in agent-transmitting relation with the body surface without subjecting the hydrogel to any rehydration process; andapplying an electrical current to the agent to deliver the agent through the body surface.