Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
Adv Healthc Mater. 2024 Jan;13(2):e2302406. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202302406. Epub 2023 Nov 7.
The advancement and extensive demand for transdermal therapies can benefit from a safe, and efficient and user-friendly transdermal technology with broad applicability in delivering various hydrophilic drugs. Here the design and proof of concept applications of an ultraswelling microneedle device that enables the facile and efficient loading and transdermal delivery of hydrophilic drugs with different molecular weights is reported. The device consists of a super-hydrophilic hydrogel microneedle array and a resin base substrate. Using a special micromolding technique that involves hydrated crosslinking and cryogenic-demolding, the microneedle part displays a rapid swelling ratio of ≈3800%, enabling the loading of drugs up to 500 kDa in molecular weight. The drug loading process using the device just involves incubating the microneedle part in a drug solution for 1 min, followed by 15 min of drying. The microneedles can easily penetrate the skin under press and detach from the base substrate under shear, thereby releasing the payload. Administration of desired therapeutic agents using the device outperformed conventional administration methods in mitigating psoriasis and eliciting immunity. This biocompatible device, capable of withstanding ethylene oxide sterilization, can enhance the efficacy and accessibility of transdermal therapies in research institutes, hospitals, and even home settings.
透皮治疗的进步和广泛需求可以受益于安全、高效且用户友好的透皮技术，该技术在输送各种亲水性药物方面具有广泛的适用性。本研究报告了一种超膨胀微针装置的设计和概念验证应用，该装置能够方便、高效地加载和透皮输送具有不同分子量的亲水性药物。该装置由超亲水水凝胶微针阵列和树脂基底组成。使用涉及水合交联和低温脱模的特殊微成型技术，微针部分显示出 ≈3800%的快速溶胀比，能够加载分子量高达 500 kDa 的药物。使用该装置进行药物加载的过程只需将微针部分在药物溶液中孵育 1 分钟，然后干燥 15 分钟即可。微针可以在压力下轻松穿透皮肤，并在剪切力下从基底上脱离，从而释放有效载荷。与传统给药方法相比，该装置在减轻银屑病和引发免疫方面的效果更好。这种生物相容性装置能够承受环氧乙烷灭菌，可提高研究机构、医院甚至家庭环境中透皮治疗的疗效和可及性。
