A Comparison of Flow- and Pressure-Controlled Infusion Strategies for Microneedle-based Transdermal Drug Delivery

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2022 Jul:2022:2573-2576. doi: 10.1109/EMBC48229.2022.9871582.

Abstract

Microneedle-based transdermal drug delivery is considered an attractive alternative to conventional injections using hypodermic needles due to its minimally invasive and painless nature; this has the potential to improve patient adherence to medication regimens. Hollow microneedles (MNs) are sharp, sub-millimeter protrusions with a channel that serves as a fluidic interface with the skin. This technology could be coupled with micro-pumps, embedded sensors, actuators and electronics to create Micro Transdermal Interface Platforms - smart, wearable infusion systems capable of delivering precise microdoses over a prolonged period. Using 500 µm tall hollow microneedles, ex-vivo human skin and a customized application/retraction device, this work focuses on comparing two infusion control strategies, namely 'set pressure' (SP) and 'set flow' (SF) infusion. It was found that flow-controlled infusion was capable of delivering higher volumes than pressure-driven delivery, and a mean volume of 3.8 mL was delivered using a set flowrate of 50 µL/minute. This suggests that flow driven delivery is a better control strategy and confirms that MN array retraction is beneficial for transdermal MN infusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Body Fluids*
  • Electronics
  • Humans
  • Needles*
  • Patient Compliance
  • Skin