CA2150019C — Supported liquid membrane delivery devices

USPTO Abstract

Supported liquid membrane delivery devices that release a beneficial agent to an aqueous environment following exposure to an environmental trigger. A microporous hydrophobic support membrane at least partially surrounds a beneficial agent-containing hydrophilic formulation. A hydrophobic liquid is held within the microporous support membrane by capillarity and the hydrophobic liquid is substantially permeable to the aqueous environment and the beneficial agent-containing hydrophilic formulation. The entrained hydrophobic liquid becomes substantially permeable to the aqueous environment upon exposure to an environmental trigger such as an enzyme, and the beneficial agent is subsequently released.