Biodegradable Porous Microneedles for an Electric Skin Patch. Issue 9 (5th August 2021) - Abe, Hiroya
Abstract: An array of porous microneedles (PMNs) made of biodegradable poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) is fabricated by a combination of molding and freeze‐drying methods. The optimized mixture of PLGA and 1, 4‐dioxane is poured into a mold of a microneedle array, followed by the freezing and sublimation of the frozen particles of 1, 4‐dioxane, a procedure that left an interconnecting porous structure in the PLGA with a porosity around 50%. The mechanical strength of the PMN made of PLGA (PLGA‐PMN) is reinforced by modification with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), resulting in sufficient strength enough for insertion into an excised porcine skin. The transdermal resistance is significantly decreased by the CMC‐modified PLGA‐PMN, which would improve the efficiency and safety of DC current‐based transdermal techniques, including the electrical monitoring of the skin condition and iontophoresis for drug delivery and medical diagnosis. Abstract : An array of porous microneedles made of poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid) is fabricated by a combination of molding and freeze‐drying methods. The transdermal resistance is significantly decreased by breaking through stratum corneum with the biodegradable porous microneedle.