LumiMicro Life Sciences

Primary service 04

Patches & Hydrogel Patches

Early-stage research support for topical patch, transdermal patch and hydrogel patch concepts. Dosage-form route definition and interpretation are provided directly; formulation, prototype and characterisation work is available by project, with study site, methods and responsible parties confirmed during feasibility review.

Discuss a patch project
  1. 01Dosage-Form Route
  2. 02Matrix & Adhesive
  3. 03Formulation & Prototypes
  4. 04Process & Characterisation
  5. 05Release & Delivery

Any module can be selected on its own, or combined into a staged route.

01

Product Goal & Dosage-Form Route

For projects deciding between patch formats, or unsure whether a patch is the right route at all.

Where this helps

  • You are deciding between a topical patch, transdermal patch and hydrogel patch.
  • You need to know whether a patch format suits your active and application site.
  • You need the development route and its principal risks defined before committing.

What we provide

Provided directly

  • Dosage-form route comparison against product goal and application site
  • Assessment of active and dose range suitability at a non-confidential level
  • Identification of principal technical, adhesion, loading and stability risks
  • Module selection and staged research roadmap

What you take away

  • Whether a patch format is realistic for this active and site
  • Which patch route to pursue, and why the others were set aside
  • Which risks govern feasibility, and in what order to resolve them

Possible outputs

Dosage-form route comparison · Feasibility note · Module selection and roadmap · Sample, method and responsibility list

What to send first

Non-confidential product concept and application site · Active class and approximate dose range · Target wear time and intended use · Existing materials, data or references

Scope. Advisory and planning work. A feasibility note does not commit LumiMicro to execute any subsequent module and gives no assurance of technical, regulatory or commercial outcome.

02

Matrix, Adhesive & Excipient Compatibility

For projects selecting a matrix or adhesive system and checking drug-loading compatibility.

Where this helps

  • You need a matrix or adhesive system selected for your active.
  • You are seeing crystallisation, migration or adhesion loss and need the cause narrowed.
  • You need to know which excipients are compatible before formulating.

What we provide

Provided directly

  • Screening design for matrix and adhesive candidates
  • Interpretation of compatibility observations and exclusion rationale

Available by project

  • Matrix, adhesive system and excipient candidate screening
  • Drug-loading compatibility and saturation behaviour observation
  • Appearance, crystallisation, migration and short-term change observation
  • Preliminary adhesion and cohesion suitability

What you take away

  • Which matrix and adhesive candidates remain viable
  • Whether the intended loading is compatible with the system
  • Which failure mode is driving the problem you are seeing

Possible outputs

Matrix and adhesive screening matrix · Compatibility observation records · Candidate range and exclusion rationale · Recommended formulation direction

What to send first

Active class and target loading at a non-confidential level · Intended patch format and wear time · Systems already tried and what was observed · Samples, where required, through an agreed route

Scope. Research-scale screening. Observations describe behaviour under the stated conditions and do not establish adhesion performance, stability or wear characteristics in a finished product.

03

Research-Scale Formulation & Prototypes

For projects that need research-grade patch formulations prepared and prototypes made.

Where this helps

  • You have a candidate matrix system and need research-grade patches prepared.
  • You need prototypes for downstream characterisation or delivery work.
  • You need numbered, allocated samples with traceable preparation records.

What we provide

Provided directly

  • Formulation route definition and critical step identification
  • Interpretation of preparation outcomes and recommended optimisation

Available by project

  • Research-grade patch formulation preparation
  • Research-scale batches, numbering and sample allocation
  • Appearance, uniformity, handling and packaging suitability observation
  • Small-range variable and repeatability observation

What you take away

  • Whether the formulation can be prepared reproducibly at research scale
  • Which preparation variables carry the greatest risk
  • The minimum experiments needed for the next round

Possible outputs

Research-scale patch prototypes or agreed samples · Preparation records and batch numbering · Preliminary process window · Risks, deviations and recommended next optimisation

What to send first

Candidate formulation at a non-confidential level · Target patch size, loading and quantity · Downstream use of the prototypes · Storage and shipping constraints

Scope. Research-scale prototypes are not sterile, GMP, clinical-batch, commercial-scale or saleable product. No process validation, batch release, scale-up or manufacturing readiness is implied.

04

Process Feasibility & Agreed Characterisation

For projects needing coating, forming, crosslinking or drying feasibility, and the physical attributes that matter to an early patch decision.

Where this helps

  • You need coating, film-forming, crosslinking, drying or forming feasibility assessed.
  • You need thickness, content uniformity, adhesion or rheology measured and compared.
  • You need preliminary stability and packaging observations under agreed conditions.

What we provide

Provided directly

  • Process route and characterisation plan design, with endpoint selection
  • Interpretation of results, including stated limitations

Available by project

  • Coating, film-forming, crosslinking, drying and forming feasibility
  • Appearance, thickness and content uniformity
  • Adhesion, peel, tack and cohesion assessment
  • Rheological and mechanical property assessment
  • Preliminary stability and packaging observation under agreed conditions

What you take away

  • Whether the process route is feasible at research scale
  • How the prototypes compare on the attributes that matter
  • Whether adhesion and uniformity support the intended wear time
  • Which attributes still need data before a conclusion can be drawn

Possible outputs

Process flow and feasibility records · Characterisation data tables and figures · Preliminary stability and packaging summary · Technical report stating method, model and limitations

What to send first

Prototypes or samples with storage conditions as agreed · Attributes and endpoints to be assessed · Any specification or reference targets · Existing data, if any

Scope. Results hold only within the stated specification, method and model. Preliminary stability observation is not a stability study to a recognised guideline and does not establish shelf life or wear performance in use.

05

Release, Delivery & Reporting Support

Optional. IVRT release and IVPT skin delivery evaluation for patch prototypes, plus external-development preparation and technical reporting.

Where this helps

  • You need release or skin delivery evidence for a patch prototype.
  • You are preparing an external development brief and need the technical content defined.
  • You have a report from another party and want it reviewed.

What we provide

Provided directly

  • Study design and endpoint selection for release or skin delivery work
  • External development brief preparation and vendor enquiry checklists
  • Review of data, protocols or reports produced by another party
  • Structuring of calculations, figures, limitations and next steps

Available by project

  • IVRT release and IVPT skin delivery evaluation, coordinated through the IVRT & IVPT service
  • Sample extraction and quantification, confirmed separately

What you take away

  • Whether the release or delivery profile supports the product concept
  • Whether an existing report's conclusions can be relied on
  • What an external development partner needs to receive to quote accurately
  • What evidence to add before the next decision

Possible outputs

Agreed study plan, results or data tables · External development brief · Vendor enquiry checklist · Structured technical report or report review note

What to send first

Prototypes or samples · The release or delivery question to be answered · Existing data or reports · Who will perform any analysis

Release and skin delivery work is run under our IVRT & IVPT Support service. Microneedle-based delivery is covered under Microneedle Development & Research Tools.

Scope. Analytical site, methods, suitability, validation status, quality system, raw data and report responsibility are confirmed per project. Does not constitute GLP/GMP, clinical, registration or regulatory acceptance, and implies no certainty of outcome.

Start with a non-confidential question.

Describe the patch concept, the stage the work has reached, and the decision the next round needs to support. Scope, responsibilities and delivery route are confirmed before work begins.

Discuss a patch project