Transparent nanoengineered skin patch for sustained pharmaceutical delivery
A silicone-hydrogel nanocomposite skin patch offering high transparency, breathability, and precise sustained release of pharmaceuticals, nutrients, or skin revitalization ingredients. The technology overcomes key transdermal delivery barriers through charged ligand-controlled release kinetics and is being adapted from validated ocular drug delivery platforms.
Overview
This solution is a transparent skin patch designed for the controlled, sustained release of pharmaceutical, nutritional, and skin revitalization ingredients. It addresses a long-standing challenge in transdermal delivery: the skin's stratified structure of interlacing hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers that limits how deeply and rapidly active ingredients can penetrate beyond the epidermis. By combining a silicone-hydrogel nanocomposite with charged ligand interfaces, the patch achieves enhanced biological affinity, high oxygen permeability, and precise microgram-level control over dosage and release timing. Its transparency supports both visual monitoring of the application site and aesthetic wearability, making it suitable for cosmetic, therapeutic, and wellness applications.
Technical specifications
Core innovations integrated into the patch:
- Nanocomposite formulation with approximately 30 percent hydrophilic hydrogel domains and roughly 40 percent water pore volume, creating aqueous diffusion channels for ingredient transport
- Interpenetrating silicone network dispersed within the porous hydrophilic gel to maximize oxygen transfer and breathability
- Nanoscale domain sizing that prevents optical scattering, preserving transparency, while enlarging interfacial areas for enhanced ingredient adsorption
- Charged ligand incorporation at polymer-pore interfaces to enable high-precision, sustained release kinetics over extended periods
- Codelivery capability for anionic hyaluronic acid, cationic ceramides, and peptides managed through acid-base-ligand interactions
- Triggering mechanism to prevent premature leakage during shelf storage
The technology builds on a dual-domain contact lens platform previously validated in NIH-funded pre-clinical studies demonstrating five times higher bioavailability than daily drops over a seven-day period.
Technology readiness level
The underlying nanocomposite and dual-domain controlled release technology has been validated through NIH SBIR Phase I and Phase II projects, including successful pre-clinical testing in New Zealand White rabbits. A publication and an allowed patent have extended the platform to general porous nanocomposite medical implant and contact devices. The skin patch application represents an adaptation of this proven ocular delivery platform to transdermal use, with ongoing engineering to optimize composite structure, oxygen permeability, and release precision for skin-specific applications. Further validation of the skin patch configuration is planned.
About Industrial Science & Technology Network, Inc
Industrial Science & Technology Network, Inc. (ISTN) is an advanced innovation company specializing in the development of nanotechnology-enabled products for industrial, optical, and biomedical applications. The company utilizes proprietary technology platforms rooted in polymer chemistry, which have been supported by development funding from organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Institutes of Health. Their core offerings include proprietary anti-fog, anti-stain, and anti-reflection coatings, as well as specialized water treatment materials like their CSMG (Chemically Surface Modified Gel) technology. Beyond product development, ISTN offers R&D collaboration services, technology assessment, due diligence, and analytical testing for polymers and films.
ISTN provides critical solutions to help customers optimize performance and cost efficiency in various manufacturing and technical environments. By offering both liquid coating formulations and expertise in designing custom processing lines, the company enables clients to integrate sophisticated surface modifications into their own production workflows. Their analytical testing division supports industrial partners by performing a wide range of material characterization and analysis services, ensuring compliance and quality control. Through these collaborative efforts, ISTN addresses technical challenges for partners ranging from advising internal R&D teams to providing fully outsourced research activities.
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