A patchless dissolving microneedle delivery system enabling rapid and efficient transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Dissolving microneedles (DMNs) are polymeric, microscopic needles that deliver encapsulated drugs in a minimally invasive manner. Currently, DMN arrays are superimposed onto patches that facilitate their insertion into skin. However, due to wide variations in skin elasticity and the amount of hair on the skin, the arrays fabricated on the patch are often not completely inserted and large amount of loaded materials are not delivered. Here, we report “Microlancer”, a novel micropillar based system by which patients can self-administer DMNs and which would also be capable of achieving 97 ± 2% delivery efficiency of the loaded drugs regardless of skin type or the amount of hair on the skin in less than a second.

Rapid implantation of dissolving microneedles on an electrospun pillar array

“…These healthy mice were fasted for 12 h with free access to water before experiment and randomly divided into the following groups: (a) an untreated group (negative control); (b) a subcutaneous injection group (0.2 IU insulin, positive control); (c) a patch group (DMNs loaded with 0.2 IU insulin); (d) a DEPA group (500 mm pillar, DMNs loaded with 0.2 IU insulin) (n ¼ 4 per group) [30]. Insulin loaded DMNs were fabricated as described in Section 2.5.…”

The Influence of Solid Microneedles on the Transdermal Delivery of Selected Antiepileptic Drugs

“…According to Flaten et al, stratum corneum thickness, viable epidermis, and hair follicle and density parameters between porcine and human skin are within the ranges of one another[50]. The use of human skin is ethically challenging despite being considered as the “golden standard” in drug diffusion studies [51,52]. Pig ear skin was porated with stainless steel microneedle rollers and the transdermal flux of drugs was monitored.…”

The success of microneedle-mediated vaccine delivery into skin

“…112 Unlike the alternate MN platforms already discussed, dissolving MNs are fully biocompatible and do not generate biohazardous waste, a distinct advantage. 113,114 Other advantages include robustness and scalability. 115,116 However, unlike hollow MN, a limitation is placed on the amount of vaccine that can be incorporated into the system 117 and vaccinees may be obliged to wait for extended periods of time to ensure complete MN degradation.…”

“…115,116 However, unlike hollow MN, a limitation is placed on the amount of vaccine that can be incorporated into the system 117 and vaccinees may be obliged to wait for extended periods of time to ensure complete MN degradation. 114 104 and polio 105 in rhesus macaques, with a long term aim to create a thermostable, selfadministration platform. Although an attractive platform, dissolvable microneedle (DMN) systems for vaccine delivery have required more time to reach clinical trials compared to hollow or solid microneedles.…”