Abstract: A microneedle device having a coating including a high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound substantially uniformly is provided. A microneedle device (1) includes a plurality of microneedles (3) on a microneedle substrate (2), which are capable of piercing the skin. A portion of or entire surface of the microneedles (3) and/or the microneedle substrate (2) has a coating including a coating carrier in a solid state. The coating carrier includes a high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound and polysaccharides compatible with the high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound. Herein, as the polysaccharide, for example, pullulan or hydroxypropylcellulose can be used.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device activated in use, which is capable of supplying a dissolution liquid in an amount that depends on the amount of a drug when it is used, is provided. This iontophoresis device activated in use comprises: an absorber 11 formed of a material containing a dry drug 10 and capable of absorbing a liquid; a wall material 13 disposed around the absorber 11, having an adhesive layer 12 on the undersurface thereof; a support 15 disposed on the absorber 11 and the wall material 13, having an opening 14 in the central portion thereof; an electrode 25 disposed on the undersurface of the support 15; a diaphragm 20 disposed on the support 15; and a dissolution liquid reservoir 18 disposed on the diaphragm 20, retaining a dissolution liquid for dissolving the drug between the diaphragm 20 and itself, and having a protruding portion 17 for destroying the diaphragm 20 by pressing force.

Abstract: An adjuvant for transdermal or transmucosal administration which comprises at least one substance selected from an aliphatic alcohol, a free fatty acid and a fatty acid derivative but does not contain a substance represented by the following formula: wherein R3 and R4 may together form a cyclic ring, and R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl side chain having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Relations between crystallinity and performance of a biodegradable resin, between weight-average molecular weight and strength thereof, and between weight-average molecular weight and performance thereof were clarified. As a result thereof, when a microneedle array was provided with microneedles containing noncrystalline polylactic acid which had a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 to 100,000, it was possible to obtain a microneedle array which could maintain its functional performance.

Abstract: Provided is a microneedle device where a coating agent has been applied to microneedles having a biodegradable resin. It has been found that the application of the coating agent to microneedles of a biodegradable resin having a predetermined strength allows the microneedles to have excellent performance. Further, with regard to the coating agent, a predetermined type and amount thereof are also useful to demonstrate performance. Accordingly, when a microneedle device 1 is arranged so that at least a part of a microneedle array 2 provided with microneedles 3 made from polylactic acid having a weight average molecular weight of 40,000 or more is coated with a carrier containing physiologically active ingredients, it is possible to attain excellent migration characteristics of the physiologically active ingredients to a living body.

Abstract: The present invention aims to allow high molecular weight active ingredients to be contained in a coating agent substantially uniformly. For this purpose, a microneedle device 1 includes a microneedle base 2, and microneedles 3 capable of piercing a skin and being disposed on the microneedle base 2, wherein at least a part of a surface of the microneedles 3 and/or the microneedle base 2 is coated with a coating agent containing a high molecular weight active ingredient and a water-soluble polymer, and the content of the water-soluble polymer in the coating agent is 0.1 to 30% by weight, and the ratio of the content of the water-soluble polymer to the content of the high molecular weight active ingredient in the coating agent is 5:1 to 1:100.

Abstract: Provided is a microneedle device having a microneedle base and microneedles capable of piercing the skin and being from 300 ?m to 500 ?m in height disposed on the base, where at least a part of the surface of the microneedles and/or the microneedle base is coated with a coating agent containing an active ingredient and a coating carrier, and a blending ratio of the active ingredient and the coating carrier is 10:0.1 to 1:10. Also provided are methods for administering active ingredients efficiently and simply through the skin using the microneedle device.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device activated in use, which is capable of supplying a dissolution liquid in an amount that depends on the amount of a drug when it is used, is provided. This iontophoresis device activated in use comprises: an absorber 11 formed of a material containing a dry drug 10 and capable of absorbing a liquid; a wall material 13 disposed around the absorber 11, having an adhesive layer 12 on the undersurface thereof; a support 15 disposed on the absorber 11 and the wall material 13, having an opening 14 in the central portion thereof; an electrode 25 disposed on the undersurface of the support 15; a diaphragm 20 disposed on the support 15; and a dissolution liquid reservoir 18 disposed on the diaphragm 20, retaining a dissolution liquid for dissolving the drug between the diaphragm 20 and itself, and having a protruding portion 17 for destroying the diaphragm 20 by pressing force.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing the immunogenicity using a microneedle device capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine. According to the method for enhancing the immunogenicity using the present microneedle device, a microneedle device having microneedles made of polylactic acid, coated with an influenza vaccine composed of an antigen having type A strain (H1N1), type A strain (H3N2), and type B strain as active ingredients is brought into direct contact with the skin so as to transcutaneously administer the aforementioned influenza vaccine. After the transcutaneous administration, lauryl alcohol is applied to the site of the skin where the microneedle device has been brought into direct contact.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an interface for a transdermal drug administration device that can supply a drug almost evenly and favorably from a plurality of projections through skin. This interface for a transdermal drug administration device has a flat plate 8. The flat plate 8 comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged conical or pyramidal projections 6 capable of piercing skin and a plurality of openings 7 capable of delivering a drug which are respectively arranged in correspondence with the projections. The openings 7 are respectively arranged in proximity to their corresponding projections 6. The flat plate 8 can be made of a metal or ceramics. The ratio between the number of the openings and the number of the projections can be 1:1 to 1:2.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for a percutaneous absorption preparation, provided with a solution storage container which can exhibit good solution migration independently of the level of force. The device for a percutaneous absorption preparation comprises an electrode film comprising a base member (1) and an electrode layer (2) and having a dissolution liquid passage hole (9), a drug impregnation member (3) mounted on the electrode layer (2) side of the electrode film, and a dissolution liquid storage container (5) bonded to the base member (1) side of the electrode film via a lid member (7) covering the solution passage hole (9). The dissolution liquid storage container (5) comprises a bottom and a sidewall. A protrusion (5b) which faces the dissolution liquid passage hole (9) is provided at the center of the bottom, and the sidewall is provided with a vertically folded part (5c).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of coating microneedles by which the microneedles mounted on a microneedle device are coated accurately and easily in a mass-producible manner. In this method, a microneedle device (22) with a plurality of microneedles (21) is mounted on a table (23), while a mask plate (25) with a plurality of apertures (24) is fixed to a frame member (26), and a coating solution (27) is drawn in the direction of arrow A on the mask plate (25) using a spatula (28) to fill the apertures (24) with the coating solution. The microneedles (21) are inserted in the apertures (24) before or after the filling of the apertures (24) with the coating solution (27) to coat the microneedles (21).

Abstract: A microneedle device having a coating including a high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound substantially uniformly is provided. A microneedle device (1) includes a plurality of microneedles (3) on a microneedle substrate (2), which are capable of piercing the skin. A portion of or entire surface of the microneedles (3) and/or the microneedle substrate (2) has a coating including a coating carrier in a solid state. The coating carrier includes a high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound and polysaccharides compatible with the high molecular weight pharmaceutical compound. Herein, as the polysaccharide, for example, pullulan or hydroxypropylcellulose can be used.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a low molecular weight adjuvant which can be administered safely without inducing skin irritation or the like by transdermal or transmucosal administration and is for enhancing immunogenicity of an antigen efficiently. It can be achieved by an immunostimulant adjuvant containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, free fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives but does not contain a substance represented by the following formula. (In the formula, R3 and R4 may be combined to form a cyclic ring, and R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl side chain having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided an inexpensive microneedle device for diagnosis of an allergy, enabling one to perform a clear skin test with simple operation for a short period of time in the diagnosis of allergies. The microneedle device (1) comprises: a microneedle substrate (2), microneedles (3) formed on the substrate at a density of 100 to 10000 needles per 1 cm2, being capable of piercing the skin 50 ?m to 500 ?m deep, and allergen-holding means (4) formed on the microneedles, holding at least one allergen. The microneedles (3) can be prepared by the use of a non-metallic synthetic or natural resin material.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for a percutaneous absorption preparation, provided with a solution storage container which can exhibit good solution migration independently of the level of force. The device for a percutaneous absorption preparation comprises an electrode film comprising a base member (1) and an electrode layer (2) and having a dissolution liquid passage hole (9), a drug impregnation member (3) mounted on the electrode layer (2) side of the electrode film, and a dissolution liquid storage container (5) bonded to the base member (1) side of the electrode film via a lid member (7) covering the solution passage hole (9). The dissolution liquid storage container (5) comprises a bottom and a sidewall. A protrusion (5b) which faces the dissolution liquid passage hole (9) is provided at the center of the bottom, and the sidewall is provided with a vertically folded part (5c).

Abstract: To provide an easily producible mass-production type iontophoresis device having a structure that a dissolution liquid-storing container is integrated with an iontophoresis electrode, a dissolution liquid and a drug can be mixed by simple operations, and it is free from a risk of leakage of electricity. The device comprises an electrode film having an electrode layer (2) formed on a base (1), a drug-loaded member (3) arranged on the electrode-layer-forming side of the electrode film, and a dissolution liquid-storing container (5) arranged on the non-electrode-layer-forming side of the electrode film, wherein the electrode film is provided with a dissolution liquid passing hole (9), a flange (5a) of the dissolution liquid-storing container (5) is bonded to the electrode film via an aluminum lid member (7) which covers the dissolution liquid passing hole (9), and the aluminum lid member (7) is arranged within the flange outer diameter of the dissolution liquid-storing container.