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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
06:25
Fabrication of a Master Mold for Microneedles with a Micron-sized Air-vent Hole
Published on: December 5, 2025
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Dissolvable layered microneedles with core-shell structures for transdermal drug delivery
Qi Lei Wang1, Xiao Peng Zhang1, Bo Zhi Chen1
1Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
Summary
This study presents novel dissolvable layered microneedles (LMNs) for painless transdermal drug delivery. LMNs demonstrate rapid, efficient drug release and stable mechanical properties, improving upon traditional microneedle systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Hypodermic injections cause pain and compliance issues.
- Microneedle (MN) systems offer painless transdermal drug delivery alternatives.
- Existing MN systems face challenges in efficiency and drug waste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel dissolvable layered microneedle (LMN) with a core-shell structure.
- To enhance transdermal drug delivery efficiency and reduce waste.
- To evaluate the mechanical properties and in vivo performance of LMNs.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of LMNs using a three-step-casting method.
- Encapsulation of drugs within a hyaluronic acid (HA) shell and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) core.
- Assessment of mechanical properties at varying humidity levels.
- In vivo transdermal delivery testing and comparison with homogeneous HA MNs.
Main Results:
- LMNs exhibit stable mechanical properties with 100% insertion efficiency at 60% relative humidity.
- Nearly 90% of the encapsulated drug is delivered within 10 seconds in vivo.
- LMNs achieved significantly faster drug delivery compared to homogeneous HA MNs (10s vs. >120s).
Conclusions:
- The novel LMNs offer a reliable and efficient method for transdermal drug delivery.
- The core-shell structure ensures rapid drug release and minimizes waste.
- LMNs show promise for future self-administration applications due to their stability and speed.
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