Device and method of skin care and treatment via microneedles having inherent anode and cathode properties, with or without cosmetic or pharmacological compositions

Abstract

A device with in situ anode and cathode microneedles is used, either with or without any cosmetic, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and/or pharmaceutical composition or formulation. The in situ anode and cathode microneedles form battery cells or half-cells when placed in contact with an electrolyte found in bodily interface tissue, to produce an electromotive force without any additional chemical battery or power source. The microneedles may be composed of, or may carry (e.g., be coated with) electrical potential material(s) that has or have an electrical potential relative to an electrolyte in the bodily interface material. A first number of microneedles may, for instance, include a first electrical potential material having a first electrical potential. A second number of microneedles may, for instance, include a second electrical potential material having a second electrical potential. The first number of microneedles may thus serve as an anode, while the second number of microneedles may thus serve as a cathode. Alternatively, a number of microneedles may, for instance, include both a first electrical potential material and a second electrical potential material, having a first electrical potential and a second electrical potential, respectively. Respective portions of each of the microneedles may thus serve as an anode and a cathode. Again, such may be accomplished without any other or additional electrochemical battery.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Technical Field[0002]This disclosure generally relates to devices and methods that treat a biological interface tissue—for instance, skin. More particularly, this disclosure relates to devices and methods that treat biological interface tissue and which combine electric fields with cosmetic, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical compositions to provide convenience, cosmetic, health, or medical benefits to an individual.[0003]Description of the Related Art[0004]Consumers spend billions of dollars per year on cosmetics and other skin care products. For example, Revlon, Inc.; Avon Products, Inc.; and L'Oreal reported combined sales of more than 30 billion dollars in recent years. Thus, at great expense, the majority of consumers passively apply cosmetics and skin care products on a daily basis. In part, the need to apply cosmetic and skin care products on a daily basis stems from the fact that many of today's cosmetic and skin care product formulations fail t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A device in the form of one or more of a nanoscale battery or batteries is safe and biocompatible and comprises a pharmaceutically accepted excipient base that is administered to a biological interface tissue (e.g., skin) of a user providing an organoleptic feedback as well as benefits from microcurrents elicited by the batteries. The device may be used by itself, or may be used to apply a cosmetic, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and / or pharmaceutical composition or formulation via one or more microneedles, that improves the user's experience and appearance results.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the adhesive may overlie the microneedles.

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