3D Printing-A "Touch-Button" Approach to Manufacture Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Merima Sirbubalo,Derzija Begic-Hajdarevic,Ahmet Cekic,Kenan Muhamedagic,Amina Tucak,Ognjenka Rahić,Almir Dervišević,Lamija Hindija,Jasmina Hadžiabdić,Edina Vranić,Maida Cohodar Husic

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13070924

Merima Sirbubalo, Derzija Begic-Hajdarevic + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13070924

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Abstract

Microneedles (MNs) represent the concept of attractive, minimally invasive puncture devices of micron-sized dimensions that penetrate the skin painlessly and thus facilitate the transdermal administration of a wide range of active substances. MNs have been manufactured by a variety of production technologies, from a range of materials, but most of these manufacturing methods are time-consuming and expensive for screening new designs and making any modifications. Additive manufacturing (AM) has become one of the most revolutionary tools in the pharmaceutical field, with its unique ability to manufacture personalized dosage forms and patient-specific medical devices such as MNs. This review aims to summarize various 3D printing technologies that can produce MNs from digital models in a single step, including a survey on their benefits and drawbacks. In addition, this paper highlights current research in the field of 3D printed MN-assisted transdermal drug delivery systems and analyzes parameters affecting the mechanical properties of 3D printed MNs. The current regulatory framework associated with 3D printed MNs as well as different methods for the analysis and evaluation of 3D printed MN properties are outlined.

Highlights

Since the approval of the first transdermal patch containing scopolamine for the treatment of motion sickness four decades ago [1], the transdermal delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has been proposed as an attractive alternative to parenteral and oral drug delivery
Due to the limited transdermal permeability of numerous APIs, chemical or physical enhancers such as electroporation, iontophoresis, jet injection, and sonophoresis were introduced [3]. As these methods were linked to problems such as painful sensations caused by electrodes, deep skin tissue damage caused by high-frequency sonophoresis, etc., the microarray patch technology, which consists of microprojections of different shapes supported on a baseplate, has gained increased attention [4]
Properties of the surface of MN patches can be evaluated by drop shape analysis and contact angle determination [138]

Summary

Introduction

Since the approval of the first transdermal patch containing scopolamine for the treatment of motion sickness four decades ago [1], the transdermal delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has been proposed as an attractive alternative to parenteral and oral drug delivery. Due to the limited transdermal permeability of numerous APIs, chemical or physical enhancers such as electroporation, iontophoresis, jet injection, and sonophoresis were introduced [3]. As these methods were linked to problems such as painful sensations caused by electrodes, deep skin tissue damage caused by high-frequency sonophoresis, etc., the microarray patch technology, which consists of microprojections of different shapes supported on a baseplate, has gained increased attention [4]. MNs were once again at the center of significant research, highlighting the great advances in microfabrication technology [6]

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