Jet injectors: Perspectives for small volume delivery with lasers.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Laser Technology

Background:

• Needle-free jet injectors offer an alternative to traditional hypodermic needles.
• Current devices often target deeper skin layers with larger volumes.
• Superficial delivery of small volumes shows promise for vaccines, insulin, and other treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of laser-actuated needle-free jet injectors.
• To contrast the advantages and limitations of existing technologies.
• To discuss the potential and challenges of laser-based jet injection systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of current research on laser-actuated jet injectors.
• Analysis of the physical principles, including laser-induced bubble formation.
• Comparison of device capabilities based on controllable parameters.

Main Results:

• Laser actuation enables precise control over micro-volume (pL to µL) injections.
• Penetration depth is adjustable (µm to mm) by tuning laser parameters.
• Technology is adaptable for diverse applications beyond traditional injections, including medical tattooing.

Conclusions:

• Laser-based jet injectors offer significant advantages for targeted superficial drug delivery.
• The technology presents opportunities for personalized medicine and novel treatment modalities.
• Further research is needed to address challenges and fully realize the potential of these devices.