Abstract
In the last two decades, microneedles (MNs) have received significant interest due to their potential for painless transdermal drug delivery (TDD) and minimal skin damage. MNs have found applications in a range of research and development areas in drug delivery. They have been prepared using a variety of materials and fabrication techniques resulting in MN arrays with different dimensions, shapes, and geometries for delivery of a variety of drug molecules. These parameters play crucial roles in determining the drug release profiles from the MNs. Developing mathematical modelling, simulation, and optimisation techniques is vital to achieving the desired MN performances. These will then be helpful for pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries as well as professionals working in the field of regulatory affairs focusing on MN based TDD systems. This is because modelling has a great potential to reduce the financial and time cost of both the MNs’ studies and manufacturing. For example, a number of robust mathematical models for predicting the performance of the MNs in vivo have emerged recently which incorporate the roles of the structural and mechanical properties of the skin. In addressing these points, this review paper aims to highlight the current status of the MN modelling research, in particular, the modelling, simulation and optimisation of the systems for drug delivery. The theoretical basis for the simulation of MN enhanced diffusion is discussed within this paper. Thus, this review paper provides a better understanding of the modelling of the MN mediated drug delivery process.
Highlights
The microneedle (MN) system has received significant interest in the last two decades as an important method for transdermal drug delivery (TDD)
CoMnNclumsioodneslling is still at its early stage but its importance in the development and optimisation of MNMNsysmteomdesllairneggisroswtililnagt aitsseevairdlyensctaegdefbroumt itasniminpcorertaasnincge innutmhebedrevoeflpopumbliecnattiaonnds oapstwimeilslaatsioan coofmMpNlexsyrastnegmesoaf riessgureoswbieninggams eovdiedlelendcebdyftrhoemseapnuibnlcicraeatisoinnsg. nGuimvebnerthoefipntuebrleisctastiionntshaessewmeolldaeslsa, ictoismcpolnecxluradnegdefroofmisstuheissrbeeviinegwmthoadtedlleevdelboyptmheenset opfumblaicthateimonast.icGailvmenodthelesionfteMreNstssyisntethmessewmilloednealsb,leit is concluded from this review that development of mathematical models of MN systems will enable efficient design and optimisation of these systems, as the system themselves are developed for more complex range of TDD problems
As the theoretical basis of MN-based TDD continues to be developed further, the MNs modelling will be a key in developing the MNs for researches and manufactures
Summary
The microneedle (MN) system has received significant interest in the last two decades as an important method for transdermal drug delivery (TDD). The MNs consist of micron size needles that facilitate drug molecules to overcome the stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of skin, without triggering the nerve ending within the dermis [1,2]. A transdermal patch or micro-emulsion of drug is applied creating a reservoir for TDD [8,39,40,41] This type of MNs requires a two-step application, which may make them less convenient for patients. The dissolving MNs are designed to be more suitable for the delivery of rapid/controlled release formulations, or in situ-forming implants [46,47] It is made up of polymers and can deliver large molecules, micro-particles, or vaccines. MN modelling and optimisation tools have the potential to screen the appropriate choice of a MN type in a given case
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