Compositions and methods comprising energy absorbing compounds for follicular delivery

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions comprising energy (e.g., light) absorbing submicron particles (e.g., nanoparticles comprising a silica core and a gold shell) and methods for delivering such particles via topical application. This delivery is facilitated by application of mechanical agitation (e.g. massage), acoustic vibration in the range of 10 Hz-20 kHz, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, and microjets.

1 . A method of localizing thermal damage to a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 topically applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a skin surface,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a conductive metal portion, wherein the conductive metal portion comprises at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating that coats the conductive metal portion, wherein said coating is hydrophilic;   wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths;   distributing the solution from the skin surface to a portion of a pilosebaceous unit;   removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the portion of the pilosebaceous unit; and   irradiating the solution with an energy wavelength in the near-infrared range thereby inducing a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said portion of the pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pre-treating the skin surface, prior to irradiating, to increase distribution from the skin surface to the pilosebaceous unit, wherein pre-treating the skin surface comprises at least one of the group consisting of: hair removal and fractionated photothermolysis laser treatment.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein distributing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles comprises distribution with a mechanical vibration device, wherein the mechanical vibration device comprises an ultrasound device. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the pilosebaceous unit comprises one or more structures consisting of: a hair follicle, a sebaceous gland, and a hair follicle infundibulum. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at a resonance wavelength of about 810 nanometers. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of about 250 O.D. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive metal portion comprises gold. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive metal portion comprises silver. 
     
     
         11 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles are nanoshells. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshells have a diameter of about 150 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the nanoshells comprise a silica core and a gold shell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the silica core has a diameter of 120 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gold shell has a thickness of 15 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises polyethylene glycol (PEG). 
     
     
         20 . A method of localizing thermal damage to a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 topically applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a skin surface;   wherein the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles has at least one peak absorption wavelength in the near-infrared range,   wherein the the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a conductive metal portion,   wherein the conductive metal portion comprises at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating that coats the conductive metal portion, wherein said coating is hydrophilic;   targeting a pilosebaceous unit by redistributing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles from the skin surface to the pilosebaceous unit, wherein redistributing solution of plasmonic nanoparticles comprises distribution with a mechanical vibration device;   removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the pilosebaceous unit; and   exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy source to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         21 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method of treating a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 pre-treating a skin surface to increase delivery of a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a portion of a pilosebaceous unit,   applying the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to the skin surface,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   distributing the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles from the skin surface to the portion of the pilosebaceous unit;   wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating, wherein said coating is hydrophilic,   removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the portion of the pilosebaceous unit, and   exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy wavelength in the near-infrared range to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said portion of the pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         36 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method of treating a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 pre-treating a skin surface to increase delivery of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a portion of a pilosebaceous unit   applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to the skin surface,   distributing the solution from the skin surface to the portion of the pilosebaceous unit;   wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths;   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating,   selectively removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the portion of the pilosebaceous unit, and   exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy wavelength in the near-infrared range to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said portion of the pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         52 .- 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A method of localizing thermal damage to a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 topically applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a skin surface,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a conductive metal portion,   wherein the conductive metal portion comprises at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating that coats the conductive metal portion,   wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths;   wherein said concentration is sufficient to, after exposure an energy wavelength, induce thermal damage in a portion of a pilosebaceous unit;   distributing the solution from the skin surface to the portion of the pilosebaceous unit;   selectively removing the solution from the skin surface, while leaving the solution localized within the portion of the pilosebaceous unit; and   exposing the solution with an energy wavelength in the near-infrared range thereby inducing a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said portion of the pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         57 .- 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A method of localizing thermal damage to a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:
 providing a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles configured for topical application to a skin surface;   wherein the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles has at least one peak absorption wavelength in the near-infrared range,   wherein the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles has an optical density of at least about 1 O.D. at one or more peak resonance wavelengths;   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a conductive metal portion,   wherein the conductive metal portion comprises at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,   wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating that coats the conductive metal portion;   targeting a pilosebaceous unit by redistributing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles from the skin surface to the pilosebaceous unit;   selectively removing the solution from the skin surface, while leaving the solution localized within the pilosebaceous unit; and   exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy source to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said pilosebaceous unit.   
     
     
         65 . A method for performing thermoablation, comprising the steps of contacting a target tissue region of a mammalian subject with a composition comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles under conditions such that an effective amount of the plasmonic nanoparticles localize to a domain of the target tissue region; and exposing the target tissue region to energy delivered from a nonlinear excitation surface plasmon resonance source in an amount effective to induce thermoablation of the domain of the target tissue region, wherein:
 the composition is formulated for topical administration;   the nanoparticle comprises a nanoshell, a nanorod, or a nanowire;   the size of the nanoparticle is about 150 to about 350 nm;   the nanoparticle comprises a coating on a surface of the nanoparticle;   the nanoparticle comprises a coating on a surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the coating comprises a protein or a peptide;   the nanoparticle comprises a coat on a surface of the nanoparticle, wherein the coating is hydrophilic;   the composition is topically administered, wherein the topical administration comprises the use of mechanical agitation, acoustic vibration, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, or microjets;   the nanoparticle has an optical absorption of about 800 nm; or   the plasmonic nanoparticle comprises a composite comprising a metal and a dielectric or a metal and a semiconductor.   
     
     
         66 .- 73 . (canceled)