Dissolvable polymer microneedles for drug delivery and diagnostics

Masood Ali; Sarika Namjoshi; Heather A E Benson; Yousuf Mohammed; Tushar Kumeria

doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.043

Dissolvable polymer microneedles for drug delivery and diagnostics

J Control Release. 2022 Jul:347:561-589. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.043. Epub 2022 May 25.

Authors

Masood Ali¹, Sarika Namjoshi², Heather A E Benson³, Yousuf Mohammed⁴, Tushar Kumeria⁵

Affiliations

¹ Therapeutics Research Group, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
² Therapeutics Research Group, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; Vaxxas Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
³ Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; Basil Hetzel institute for Translational Health Research, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: h.benson@curtin.edu.au.
⁴ Therapeutics Research Group, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: y.mohammed@uq.edu.au.
⁵ School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney. NSW 2052, Australia; Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: t.kumeria@unsw.edu.au.

PMID: 35525331
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.043

Abstract

Dissolvable transdermal microneedles (μND) are promising micro-devices used to transport a wide selection of active compounds into the skin. To provide an effective therapeutic outcome, μNDs must pierce the human stratum corneum (~10 to 20 μm), without rupturing or bending during penetration, then release their cargo at the predetermined area and time. The ability of dissolvable μND arrays/patches to sufficiently pierce the skin is a crucial requirement, which depends on the material composition, μND geometry and fabrication techniques. This comprehensive review not only provides contemporary knowledge on the μND design approaches, but also the materials science facilitating these delivery systems and the opportunities these advanced materials can provide to enhance clinical outcomes.

Keywords: 3D printed microneedles; Dissolving microneedles; Drug payload; Polymer.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administration, Cutaneous
Drug Delivery Systems / methods
Humans
Microinjections / methods
Needles*
Polymers* / pharmacology
Skin

Substances

Polymers