Disclosed is a therapeutic patch for the gastrointestinal tract including a mucoadhesive material along with magnetic nanoparticles and a drug to be delivered to a living body, which are supported on the mucoadhesive material. A method of manufacturing the therapeutic patch for the gastrointestinal tract is also provided and includes preparing a mucoadhesive polymer, preparing a catechol precursor, mixing the mucoadhesive polymer and the catechol precursor, freeze-drying a mixture in the mixing step, mixing a powder resulting from the freeze-drying step with magnetic nanoparticles and a drug, and subjecting the resultant mixture to molding using a mold and then freeze-drying.

This invention provides methods and systems for achieving high-specificity killing of targeted cells using Magneto-Electric Nano-Particles (MENPs) and functional or diagnostic imaging that detects changes at the cellular level. Embodiments comprise injecting into a patient's body manufactured MENPs that have a higher tendency to accumulate near or attach to targeted cells through one or more physical forces and/or biological mechanisms; and applying a magnetic field to the MENPs to generate an action that is sufficient to cause death of the targeted cells, and using an imaging apparatus to image or detect a specific property of the MENPs or changes in a property of the MENPs due to the coupling of the MENPs with their surrounding environment.

A method for directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells to selected locations within the body and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at selected locations within the body, the method comprising: providing an article comprising a body of material configured to be secured about the body of a patient and having a plurality of pockets thereon, wherein each pocket is sized to receive and retain one or more magnets therein; injecting therapeutic USPIO nanoparticle-containing cells into a target therapy site; securing the article to the body of the patient; and inserting at least one magnet into at least one pocket so as to provide a desired magnetic field for further directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labelled cells to a target therapy site and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at the target therapy site.

Described herein are high-boiling-point-based nanoparticles that release drugs specifically at the focus of ultrasound. The specific conjunction of the high-boiling-point-based nanoparticle formulation with low-frequency ultrasound can be used to deliver therapeutics in a safe and effective manner. The effectiveness and safety of the release is validated in vitro and in non-human primates.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

A cavitation seed for drug delivery, and a drug delivery method using the same are disclosed. The cavitation seed according to the present invention comprises: a shell which forms the outer surface thereof to maintain the outer shape thereof within a fluid; and a core which is located inside the shell to determine buoyancy of the cavitation seed within the fluid. The cavitation seed can improve an effect of delivering a drug into a body since cavitation is induced by ultrasound at a position close to the epidermis. In addition, the cavitation seed can be applied in the delivery of various drugs as well as skin cosmetics, such as skin tone lightening agents, depilatories, hair restorers and skin fillers, skin analgesics, local anesthetics, agents for genetic diseases such as psoriasis, and agents for treatment of skin disease such as skin cancer.

The present invention relates to frigostable compositions suitable for iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a triptan compound that includes: a salt of a triptan compound, preferably sumatriptan succinate, a polyamine, one or more dicarboxylic acids, 0.5 to 10.0 wt.-% (based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more monocarboxylic acids, and water or an aqueous solvent mixture. The invention further relates to the use of the composition as an integral component of an iontophoretic patch, preferably as an anodic reservoir of the patch.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a liquid delivery apparatus. A non-limiting example of the apparatus includes a substrate including a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate. The apparatus can also include a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity. The apparatus can also include a hydrophobic layer disposed on the membrane. The apparatus can also include a seal disposed between the membrane and the substrate, wherein the seal surrounds the opening of the cavity. The apparatus can also include an electrode layer coupled to the membrane.

System (100) comprising a device (101) comprising a body (102), an ion conductive member (120), a first electrode (131), and a second electrode (132). The system (100) further comprises a source solution (141), a target solution (142), a first species (151), and a second species (152). A first end (121) of the ion conductive member (120) is arranged in contact with 5 the source solution (141). A second end (122) of the ion conductive member (120) is arranged in contact with the target solution (142). The first electrode (131) is arranged in contact with the source solution (141), the second electrode (132) is arranged in contact with the target solution (142), the first species (151) is in the source solution (141), and the second species (152) is in the target solution (142). Under the influence of an electrical field, the first species (151) is 10 transported through the ion conductive member (120) from the source solution (141) to the target solution (142) and interacts with the second species (152), such that at least one part (153) of the second species (152) is released.

Systems and methods for the controlled release of a guest composition that is sequestered within a host composition made up of an anisotropic fluid are disclosed. The guest composition is immiscible in the host composition, thus forming an interface between the compositions upon which elastic repulsion forces act to prevent the release of the guest composition from the host composition. The disclosed systems and methods work by changing the elastic repulsion forces and/or introducing one or more counter forces such that the elastic repulsion forces are no longer sufficient to prevent release of the guest composition. Exemplary methods include mechanically changing the host material (e.g., changing its temperature) or inducing a chemical (e.g., electrostatic) attraction sufficient to overcome the elastic repulsion forces. The disclosed systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications requiring “on-demand” delivery of a chemical composition.