Baroreceptor-Inspired Microneedle Skin Patch for Pressure-Controlled Drug Release

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Chronic skin diseases necessitate advanced transdermal treatments.
• Traditional methods lack precise dosage control, risking irritation and resistance.
• A need exists for user-friendly, controllable drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a baroreceptor-inspired microneedle skin patch for pressure-controlled drug release.
• To create a biomimetic device for spatiotemporal control of transdermal drug delivery.
• To enhance drug delivery efficiency and user experience for skin disease treatment.

Main Methods:

• Designed a microneedle patch with drug-containing needles and a stretchable electrode array.
• Integrated a piezoconductive switch and flexible battery for localized electrical stimulation upon pressure.
• Utilized biomimicry of skin baroreceptors for a responsive, user-triggered system.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated spatiotemporally controlled delivery of Cy3 dye in pig skin, achieving ~8x higher fluorescence than passive delivery.
• Successfully delivered insulin in a mouse model, observing reduced blood glucose levels upon patch activation.
• Showcased 2.83 times higher drug release dosage compared to passive delivery.

Conclusions:

• The baroreceptor-inspired microneedle patch offers precise spatiotemporal control over drug release profiles.
• This biomimetic device represents a significant advancement in microneedle technology for transdermal therapies.
• The user-triggered, localized electrical stimulation ensures efficient and targeted drug administration.