Personalizing substance for application to the skin or addition to tattoo ink and methods of preparation thereof

Abstract

Compositions for delivering materials, such as a biological material, sand, soil, metal, water, sea water, holy water, synthetic or biological polymers, cremated ash, ceramics, animal or plant tissue, or another physiologically compatible component having personal significance to an individual are described herein. The material(s) are encapsulated in an inert, non-bioerodible, hydrophobic, polymeric material. Methods of making microparticles encapsulating the personalizing substance and methods of use are also provided, The personalizing substance may be encapsulated in a polymeric non-bioerodible microparticle. The encapsulated personalizing substance may be combined with a carrier for delivery to an individual's skin. In some embodiments, the personalizing substance is added to a tattoo ink and incorporated in a tattoo created on an individual's skin. Following injection in the skin, the encapsulated material remains in the microparticles, and is not released over time.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a substance encapsulated in a non-bioerodible, polymeric microparticle, wherein:
 (a) the microparticle comprises a biocompatible, hydrophobic, non-bioerodible polymer;   (b) the microparticle does not release a detectable amount of the substance for at least one month after delivery to an individual's skin;   (c) the microparticle does not comprise visible pores using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and   (d) the microparticle comprises up to 10% (w/w) of the substance, wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of sand, soil, metal, water, rock, a synthetic polymer, cremated ash, ceramics animal tissue and plant tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier suitable for injection into the skin. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is in the form of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, and copolymers and blends thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a glass transition temperature that is greater than or equal to 60° C. or has a melting point greater than or equal to 50° C. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a tattoo ink, wherein the ink comprises at least one pigment or dye. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticle does not comprise silica. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water is seawater. 
     
     
         9 . A method of applying an ink tattoo to the skin of an individual comprising injecting into the individual's skin the composition of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the injection is made at the site of an existing tattoo. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising mixing the microparticles with the tattoo ink prior to injection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of injecting is repeated multiple times at different sites on the skin to form a tattoo design. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the substance is in the form of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the microparticles have a size ranging from 1 micron to 5 microns. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer has a glass transition temperature that is greater than or equal to 60° C. or has a melting point greater than or equal to 50° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the niicroparticles do not comprise silica. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises a carrier selected from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, glycerol, and water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier is a solution of 60% water, 30% glycerol, and 10% ethanol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, and copolymers and blends thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the water is seawater.