Microneedles or Microneedle patches or Microarray patches are micron-scaled medical devices used to administer vaccines, drugs, and other therapeutic agents. While microneedles were initially explored for transdermal drug delivery applications, their use has been extended for the intraocular, vaginal, transungual, cardiac, vascular, gastrointestinal, and intracochlear delivery of drugs. Microneedles are constructed through various methods, usually involving photolithographic processes or micromolding. These methods involve etching microscopic structure into resin or silicon in order to cast microneedles. Microneedles are made from a variety of material ranging from silicon, titanium, stainless steel, and polymers. Some microneedles are made of a drug to be delivered to the body but are shaped into a needle so they will penetrate the skin. The microneedles range in size, shape, and function but are all used as an alternative to other delivery methods like the conventional hypodermic needle or other injection apparatus.
A microneedle patch is a technology used in various fields, particularly in medicine and skincare. Here’s a brief overview:
Structure: It’s a patch-like device with very tiny needles (typically ranging from hundreds to thousands of micrometers in length) arranged on its surface.
Applications:
Medicine: Microneedle patches are used for drug delivery. The needles painlessly puncture the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) to deliver medication or vaccines directly into the underlying layers (dermis).
Skincare: In cosmetics, these patches can deliver active ingredients like vitamins, peptides, or hyaluronic acid into the skin, promoting rejuvenation or hydration.
Advantages:
Painless: The microneedles are so small that they often don’t cause pain.
Precise Delivery: They enable controlled and targeted delivery of substances into the skin.
Safety: They reduce the risk of infection compared to traditional needles, as they typically do not reach nerves or blood vessels.
Types:
Solid Microneedles: Made of materials like silicon or metals, they physically penetrate the skin.
Dissolving Microneedles: Made from biodegradable materials that dissolve within the skin, releasing their payload.
Usage: Application involves pressing the patch against the skin for a short period, allowing the needles to penetrate, and then removing the patch.
Research and Development: Ongoing research aims to improve efficiency, stability, and versatility of microneedle patches for broader applications, including diabetes management, pain relief, and cosmetic enhancements.
Microneedles are usually applied through even single needle or small arrays. The arrays used are a collection of microneedles, ranging from only a few microneedles to several hundred, attached to an applicator, sometimes a patch or other solid stamping device. The arrays are applied to the skin of patients and are given time to allow for the effective administration of drugs. Microneedles are an easier method for physicians as they require less training to apply and because they are not as hazardous as other needles, making the administration of drugs to patients safer and less painful while also avoiding some of the drawbacks of using other forms of drug delivery, such as risk of infection, production of hazardous waste, or cost.
Overall, microneedle patches represent a promising advancement in both medical treatment and cosmetic care, offering a minimally invasive and potentially more effective way to deliver substances through the skin.
Companies that are involved in the development or manufacturing of microneedle patches, along with the types of patches they focus on:
Micron Biomedical
Type: Solid microneedle patches for drug delivery.
Vaxess Technologies
Type: Solid microneedle patches for vaccine delivery.
3M
Type: Solid microneedle patches for drug delivery and cosmetic applications.
Microdermics
Type: Solid microneedle patches for drug delivery, focusing on diabetes management.
Zosano Pharma
Type: Solid microneedle patches for transdermal drug delivery.
Pulse Biosciences
Type: Non-thermal nanosecond electric pulse technology for enhancing drug delivery through microneedles.
TheraJect
Type: Dissolving microneedle patches for drug delivery.
NanoPass Technologies
Type: Microneedle devices for vaccine and drug delivery.
StrataGraft
Type: Solid microneedle patches for regenerative medicine and skin repair.
Corium
Type: Microneedle patches for drug delivery and skincare.