Abstract

MICRONEEDLES: AN EMERGING TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Veena K. R.*

Abstract

One of the thrust areas in drug delivery research is transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) due to their characteristic advantages over oral and parenteral drug delivery systems. Microneedles are fabricated using a microelectromechanical system employing silicon, metals, polymers or polysaccharides. Microneedles deliver the drug into the epidermis without disruption of nerve endings. Solid coated microneedles can be used to pierce the superficial skin layer followed by delivery of the drug. Advances in microneedle research led to development of dissolvable/degradable and hollow microneedles to deliver drugs at a higher dose and to engineer drug release. Iontophoresis, sonophoresis and electrophoresis can be used to modify drug delivery when used in concern with hollow microneedles. Microneedles can be used to deliver macromolecules such as insulin, growth hormones, immunobiologicals, proteins and peptides. Microneedle-based drug delivery system can be explored as a potential tool for the delivery of a variety of macromolecules that are not effectively delivered by conventional transdermal techniques.

Keywords: Microneedles, macromolecules delivery, transdermal way.