MicrospongeR Delivery Systems (MDS): A Topical Delivery System with Multiple Mechanism for Triggering the Release of Actives

Recently the controlled release of topically active agents has been a subject of increasing interest. The use of an MDS (MicrospongeR Delivery System) for the controlled administration of an active agent provides benefits that range from more efficient use of the active agent to a less irritating formulation. The average MDS is an active agent loaded in a macroporous bead with an average particle size of 25 um. The use of an MDS confers to the formulation a sustained or controlled release and the capacity to either initiate or modify the release rate when exposed to some change in the external environment. The external stimuli can be invoked by the user in either an active or passive manner, i.e., rubbing, temperature, pH, etc. Thus the development of triggered-release MDS formulations results in “intelligent” responsive systems.