School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2018 Apr;8(2):307-316. doi: 10.1007/s13346-017-0393-4.
Microneedles (MNs) are a novel transdermal drug delivery platform, rapidly progressing from a substantive evidence base, towards commercialisation. As part of this transition, it is important to consider the future use of MNs by older people in order to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes for this unique and increasing population group. This paper, therefore, considers the use of MNs by those aged over 65 years, investigating insertion parameters in ageing skin, alongside the feasibility and acceptability of the technology. Hydrogel-forming MN arrays were applied to seven subjects aged over 65 years, with breach of the stratum corneum confirmed using optical coherence tomography. Insertion depths recorded in each case were similar to a comparative group, aged 20-30 years. Skin recovery was, however, demonstrated to occur at a slower rate in the older subjects, as measured using transepidermal water loss. Qualitative methods, including focus groups and semi-structured interviews, were employed to collect the views and opinions of older people and community pharmacists respectively. The overall consensus was positive, with a number of benefits to MN-mediated drug delivery identified, such as reduced dosing frequency, improved adherence and an alternative delivery route where oral or injectable medication was precluded. Concerns centred on practical issues associated with age-related functional decline, including, for example, reduced dexterity and skin changes. The presentation of this work collectively provides the first convincing report of the importance of further translational research in this area to support future MN use in older people, ensuring an age-appropriate delivery platform.
微针（MNs）是一种新型的经皮药物传递平台，正在从实质性的证据基础迅速发展到商业化。在这种转变过程中，重要的是要考虑老年人将来对 MNs 的使用，以确保这一独特且不断增长的人群群体获得最佳的治疗效果。因此，本文考虑了 65 岁以上人群使用 MNs 的问题，研究了老化皮肤中的插入参数，以及该技术的可行性和可接受性。水凝胶形成的 MN 阵列应用于 7 名年龄在 65 岁以上的受试者，使用光学相干断层扫描确认角质层破裂。在每种情况下记录的插入深度与年龄在 20-30 岁的对照组相似。然而，通过经皮水分流失测量，发现老年受试者的皮肤恢复速度较慢。定性方法，包括焦点小组和半结构化访谈，分别用于收集老年人和社区药剂师的意见和看法。总体共识是积极的，确定了 MN 介导的药物输送的一些好处，例如减少给药频率、提高依从性以及在口服或注射药物被排除的情况下提供替代给药途径。关注的焦点是与年龄相关的功能下降相关的实际问题，例如，灵巧性降低和皮肤变化。这项工作的呈现首次令人信服地报告了在这一领域进行进一步转化研究的重要性，以支持老年人未来对 MN 的使用，确保使用适合年龄的传递平台。
