Transdermal insulin application system with dissolving microneedles.
Yukako Ito1, Takuya Nakahigashi, Naoko Yoshimoto
1Department of Pharmacokinetics, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Japan. yukako@mb.kyoto-phu.ac.jp
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics
|September 28, 2012
Summary
This study developed a novel dissolving microneedle (DM) system for transdermal insulin delivery. The system demonstrated high relative pharmacological availability, suggesting its potential for effective diabetes management.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Development of a novel dissolving microneedle (DM) application system for insulin delivery.
- The system utilizes 225-300 insulin-loaded DMs on a chip, applied via manual pressure after removing a protective layer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a two-layered dissolving microneedle (DM) array chip for efficient transdermal insulin delivery.
- To assess factors influencing DM penetration depth and determine the relative pharmacological availability (RPA) of insulin.
Main Methods:
- Investigated DM penetration depth in rat and human skin using in vitro and in vivo experiments, varying application speed, force, and duration.
- Prepared two-layered DM array chips with specific insulin loading.
- Administered DMs to rat abdominal skin and measured plasma glucose levels over 6 hours.
Main Results:
- Penetration depth increased with application speed (0.8-2.2 m/s) and was dependent on force and duration in vivo (211 ± 3 μm at 3 min).
- Evaluated DM array chips with insulin loads of 181.2 ± 4.2 and 209 ± 3.9 μm.
- Achieved high RPA values for insulin from DMs: 98.1 ± 0.8% and 98.1 ± 3.1%.
Conclusions:
- The developed two-layered DM application system is effective for transdermal insulin delivery.
- The system shows significant potential for improving insulin administration and diabetes management.
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