Transdermal electroosmotic flow generated by a porous microneedle array patch

Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 28;12(1):658. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20948-4.

Abstract

A microneedle array is an attractive option for a minimally invasive means to break through the skin barrier for efficient transdermal drug delivery. Here, we report the applications of solid polymer-based ion-conductive porous microneedles (PMN) containing interconnected micropores for improving iontophoresis, which is a technique of enhancing transdermal molecular transport by a direct current through the skin. The PMN modified with a charged hydrogel brings three innovative advantages in iontophoresis at once: (1) lowering the transdermal resistance by low-invasive puncture of the highly resistive stratum corneum, (2) transporting of larger molecules through the interconnected micropores, and (3) generating electroosmotic flow (EOF). In particular, the PMN-generated EOF greatly enhances the transdermal molecular penetration or extraction, similarly to the flow induced by external pressure. The enhanced efficiencies of the EOF-assisted delivery of a model drug (dextran) and of the extraction of glucose are demonstrated using a pig skin sample. Furthermore, the powering of the PMN-based transdermal EOF system by a built-in enzymatic biobattery (fructose / O2 battery) is also demonstrated as a possible totally organic iontophoresis patch.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Dextrans / administration & dosage
  • Dextrans / metabolism
  • Dextrans / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Delivery Systems / instrumentation*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Electroosmosis
  • Epidermis / metabolism*
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / administration & dosage
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / analogs & derivatives
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / metabolism
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / pharmacokinetics
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Iontophoresis / instrumentation
  • Iontophoresis / methods
  • Male
  • Microinjections
  • Needles
  • Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules / administration & dosage
  • Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules / metabolism
  • Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules / pharmacokinetics
  • Porosity
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Dextrans
  • Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules
  • fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Glucose

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.13264922