Drug delivery via tattooing: Effect of needle and fluid properties

Abstract

Tattooing is a commonplace practice among the general populace in which ink is deposited within dermal tissue. Typically, an array of needles punctures the skin which facilitates the delivery of a fluid within the dermis. Although, a few studies in the past have investigated the potential of tattooing as an intradermal (ID) drug injection technique, an understanding of the fluid dynamics involved in the delivery of fluid into skin is still lacking. Herein, we sought to provide insight into the process via an in vitro study. We utilize a five needle flat array (5F) with a tattoo machine to inject fluids into gelatin gels. High-speed imaging was used to visualize the injection process and estimate the amount of fluid delive red after each injection upto the 50th injection. We investigate the role of reciprocating frequency (f) of the needle array and the physical properties of the fluids on the volume (Vo) and the percentage delivery (η) after injection. In addition, we illustrate the physical mechanism of fluid infusion during tattooing, which has not been reported. An understanding of the injection process via tattooing can be useful in the development of ID tattoo injectors as drug delivery devices.