PI: Burak Ozdoganlar
Co-PI(s): Phil Campbell
University: Carnegie Mellon University
Industry partner: SkinJect, Inc.
Microneedle array (MNA) technology could revolutionize how we deliver drugs and vaccines to the human body. In the last 15 years, many research laboratories have demonstrated the effectiveness of MNAs in delivering a broad range of therapeutics, drugs, and vaccines. Among different types of MNAs, dissolvable MNAs are a primary candidate for efficient and effective drug delivery. In dissolvable MNAs, the biocargo to be delivered is integrated into a matrix of dissolvable polymers that form the microneedles. Upon administration, the MNAs dissolve and deliver cargo into the skin. However, the FDA regulatory approval and clinical translation of dissolvable MNAs have been limited. A critical problem is variability in their delivery dosage. Although the dosage loaded into the MNAs is very precisely controlled, their lack of reproducible and uniform penetration into the skin is the cause of this variability. Specifically, needle defects, (unwanted) patch curvature, and variation in material properties (caused by moisture absorption from the environment) result in significant variations in uniform penetration of MNA patches. Increased patch size (large patch area) exacerbates this problem considerably.