胰岛素相转化水凝胶微针透皮贴片

本研究采用化学惰性、可吸收体液溶涨从玻璃态变为水凝胶态的聚合物材料制备了可用于胰岛素透皮给药的微针贴剂,相转化水凝胶微针贴膜。胰岛素是1型和晚期2型糖尿病的必用药。针尖穿透表皮后吸收体液溶涨,使预先担栽的胰岛素在真皮层高效而精确地释放出来,同时不留下针尖物质在皮层的沉积。上述性质使得相转化水凝胶微针贴膜成为需要一生频繁用药的蛋白、多酞药物的理想剂型。     

胰岛素相转化水凝胶微针透皮贴片

本研究采用化学惰性、可吸收体液溶涨从玻璃态变为水凝胶态的聚合物材料制备了可用于胰岛素透皮给药的微针贴剂,相转化水凝胶微针贴膜。胰岛素是1型和晚期2型糖尿病的必用药。针尖穿透表皮后吸收体液溶涨,使预先担栽的胰岛素在真皮层高效而精确地释放出来,同时不留下针尖物质在皮层的沉积。上述性质使得相转化水凝胶微针贴膜成为需要一生频繁用药的蛋白、多酞药物的理想剂型。     

Microneedles for transdermal drug delivery

The success of transdermal drug delivery has been severely limited by the inability of most drugs to enter the skin at therapeutically useful rates. Recently, the use of micron-scale needles in increasing skin permeability has been proposed and shown to dramatically increase transdermal delivery, especially for macromolecules. Using the tools of the microelectronics industry, microneedles have been fabricated with a range of sizes, shapes and materials. Most drug delivery studies have emphasized solid microneedles, which have been shown to increase skin permeability to a broad range of molecules and nanoparticles in vitro. In vivo studies have demonstrated delivery of oligonucleotides, reduction of blood glucose level by insulin, and induction of immune responses from protein and DNA vaccines. For these studies, needle arrays have been used to pierce holes into skin to increase transport by diffusion or iontophoresis or as drug carriers that release drug into the skin from a microneedle surface coating. Hollow microneedles have also been developed and shown to microinject insulin to diabetic rats. To address practical applications of microneedles, the ratio of microneedle fracture force to skin insertion force (i.e. margin of safety) was found to be optimal for needles with small tip radius and large wall thickness. Microneedles inserted into the skin of human subjects were reported as painless. Together, these results suggest that microneedles represent a promising technology to deliver therapeutic compounds into the skin for a range of possible applications.     

新型经皮传递胰岛素透明质酸微针制剂的制备及性能考察

目的证明透明质酸微针制剂在药物经皮传递系统方面的应用前景。方法通过皮肤及微针的显微照片考察微针刺入皮肤的性能和在大鼠体内的溶解性能;用皮肤刺激性实验评价透明质酸微针的安全性;以人的离体皮肤为透皮释药模型,通过体外经皮通透实验考察微针对模型药物胰岛素经皮吸收的促进作用。结果微针能够均匀刺穿角质层,在皮肤表面产生与微针一致的阵列形状,在皮肤断面可观察到直至真皮层的通道;在大鼠体内使用1 h后,针体能够完全溶解,皮肤刺激性指数为1.7,属于轻度刺激性;体外经皮实验中,微针中的胰岛素能够以活性形式释放,与同剂量的溶液相比,微针对胰岛素的体外经皮吸收具有显著的促进作用,稳态通透速率达75.33×10-6U.cm-2.h-1。结论以透明质酸为基质制备的微针具有良好的皮肤刺入性、溶解性和轻度的刺激性,对于生物大分子类药物的经皮吸收有明显的促进作用,具有良好的开发前景。     

Influence of the delivery systems using a microneedle array on the permeation of a hydrophilic molecule, calcein.

Despite the advantages of drug delivery through the skin, such as easy accessibility, convenience, prolonged therapy, avoidance of the liver first-pass metabolism and a large surface area, transdermal drug delivery is only used with a small subset of drugs because most compounds cannot cross the skin at therapeutically useful rates. Recently, a new concept was introduced known as microneedles and these could be pierced to effectively deliver drugs using micron-sized needles in a minimally invasive and painless manner. In this study, biocompatible polycarbonate (PC) microneedle arrays with various depths (200 and 500mum) and densities (45, 99 and 154ea/cm(2)) were fabricated using a micro-mechanical process. The skin permeability of a hydrophilic molecule, calcein (622.5D), was examined according to the delivery systems of microneedle, drug loading, depth of the PC microneedle, and density of the PC microneedle. The skin permeability of calcein was the highest when the calcein gel was applied to the skin with the 500mum-depth PC microneedle, simultaneously. In addition, the skin permeability of calcein was the highest when 0.1g of calcein gel was coupled to the 500mum-depth PC microneedle (154ea/cm(2)) as well as longer microneedles and larger density of microneedles. Taken together, this study suggests that a biocompatible PC microneedle might be a suitable tool for transdermal drug delivery system of hydrophilic molecules with the possible applications to macromolecules such as proteins and peptides.     

Microneedles: an emerging transdermal drug delivery system

Objectives 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. Researchers have focused their attention on the use of microneedles to overcome the barrier of the stratum corneum. Microneedles deliver the drug into the epidermis without disruption of nerve endings. Recent advances in the development of microneedles are discussed in this review for the benefit of young scientists and to promote research in the area. Key findings Microneedles are fabricated using a microelectromechanical system employing silicon, metals, polymers or polysaccharides. 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. Microneedles containing ‘cosmeceuticals’ are currently available to treat acne, pigmentation, scars and wrinkles, as well as for skin tone improvement. Summary Literature survey and patents filled revealed that 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.     

Fabrication of Dissolving Polymer Microneedles for Controlled Drug Encapsulation and Delivery: Bubble and Pedestal Microneedle Designs

Dissolving microneedle patches offer promise as a simple, minimally invasive method of drug and vaccine delivery to the skin that avoids the need for hypodermic needles. However, it can be difficult to control the amount and localization of drug within microneedles. In this study, we developed novel microneedle designs to improve control of drug encapsulation and delivery using dissolving microneedles by (i) localizing drug in the microneedle tip, (ii) increasing the amount of drug loaded in microneedles while minimizing wastage, and (iii) inserting microneedles more fully into the skin. Localization of our model drug, sulforhodamine B in the microneedle tip by either casting a highly concentrated polymer solution as the needle matrix or incorporating an air bubble at the base of the microneedle achieved approximately 80% delivery within 10 min compared to 20% delivery achieved by the microneedles encapsulating nonlocalized drug. As another approach, a pedestal was introduced to elevate each microneedle for more complete insertion into the skin and to increase its drug loading capacity by threefold from 0.018 to 0.053 μL per needle. Altogether, these novel microneedle designs provide a new set of tools to fabricate dissolving polymer microneedles with improved control over drug encapsulation, loading, and delivery.     

In vivo assessment of safety of microneedle arrays in human skin

Microneedle arrays are promising devices for the delivery of drugs and vaccines into or the skin. However, little is known about the safety of the microneedles. In this study we obtained insight in the ability of microneedles to disrupt the skin barrier, which was evaluated by transepidermal water loss (TEWL). We also determined the safety in terms of skin irritation (skin redness and blood flow) and pain sensation. We applied microneedle arrays varying in length and shape on the ventral forearms of 18 human volunteers. An effect of needle length was observed, as TEWL and redness values after treatment with solid microneedle arrays of 400mum were significantly increased compared to 200mum. The blood flow showed a similar trend. Needle design also had an effect. Assembled microneedle arrays induced higher TEWL values than the solid microneedle arrays, while resulting in less skin irritation. However, for all microneedles the irritation was minimal and lasted less than 2h. In conclusion, the microneedle arrays used in this study are able to overcome the barrier function of the skin in human volunteers, are painless and cause only minimal irritation. This opens the opportunity for dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs and vaccines.     

日夜两用生长激素微针贴片的制备及体外评价

目的 制备日夜两用生长激素微针贴片，模拟人体生理状态下内源性生长激素分泌的昼夜差异，实现生长激素给药时间和用量的优化，同时有效减轻皮下注射给药疼痛感，提高患者使用依从性。方法 采用铸模法制备微针贴片，通过光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察微针表面形貌。经体外释放试验确定含生长激素微针制备的最佳工艺条件，包括优化紫外交联时间和交联剂含量。通过微针力学强度测试和体外透皮试验验证微针贴片有效穿透皮肤的可行性，通过圆二色光谱测定药物的稳定性。通过调试负载不同剂量生长激素制备日用和夜用微针贴片。结果 在显微镜下观察到微针排列整齐，针体完整、尖锐，微针在药物释放前后形貌无明显差异。工艺优化结果表明，当紫外交联时间为7 min，交联剂用量为1.5%时，微针贴片可以有效穿透离体大鼠皮肤，同时实现了生长激素在12 h内稳定释放，且微针释放出的蛋白药物构象无明显变化。通过在针体中负载不同剂量生长激素，制备了日用和夜用生长激素微针贴片。结论 本研究制备的微针能够顺应在生理状态下生长激素分泌的日夜差异，实现了适宜时间释放适量生长激素的目标，未来可进一步优化微针药物负载量以满足不同患者的实际使用需求，以期实现个体化治疗。     

Microneedles and other physical methods for overcoming the stratum corneum barrier for cutaneous gene therapy

The outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, has developed formidable physical and immunological barrier properties that prevent infiltration of deleterious chemicals and pathogens. Consequently, transdermal delivery of medicaments is currently restricted to a limited number of low molecular weight drugs. As a corollary, there has been significant recent interest in providing strategies that disrupt or circumvent the principal physical barrier, the stratum corneum, for the efficient cutaneous delivery of macromolecular and nucleic acid based therapeutics. These strategies include: electrical methods, intradermal injection, follicular delivery, particle acceleration, laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, microscission, and microneedles. The application of microfabricated microneedle arrays to skin creates transient pathways to enable transcutaneous delivery of drugs and macromolecules. Microneedle use is simple, pain-free, and causes no bleeding, with further advantages of convenient manufacture, distribution, and disposal. To date, microneedles have been shown to deliver drug, peptide, antigen, and DNA efficiently through skin. Robust and efficient microneedle designs and compositions can be inserted into the skin without fracture. Further progress in microneedle array design, microneedle application apparatus, and integrated formulation will confirm this methodology as a realistic clinical strategy for delivering a range of medicaments, including DNA, to and through skin.     

Transdermal Delivery of Insulin Using Microneedles in Vivo

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to design and fabricate arrays of solid microneedles and insert them into the skin of diabetic hairless rats for transdermal delivery of insulin to lower blood glucose level. METHODS: Arrays containing 105 microneedles were laser-cut from stainless steel metal sheets and inserted into the skin of anesthetized hairless rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. During and after microneedle treatment, an insulin solution (100 or 500 U/ml) was placed in contact with the skin for 4 h. Microneedles were removed 10 s, 10 min, or 4 h after initiating transdermal insulin delivery. Blood glucose levels were measured electrochemically every 30 min. Plasma insulin concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay at the end of most experiments. RESULTS: Arrays of microneedles were fabricated and demonstrated to insert fully into hairless rat skin in vivo. Microneedles increased skin permeability to insulin, which rapidly and steadily reduced blood glucose levels to an extent similar to 0.05-0.5 U insulin injected subcutaneously. Plasma insulin concentrations were directly measured to be 0.5-7.4 ng/ml. Higher donor solution insulin concentration, shorter insertion time, and fewer repeated insertions resulted in larger drops in blood glucose level and larger plasma insulin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Solid metal microneedles are capable of increasing transdermal insulin delivery and lowering blood glucose levels by as much as 80% in diabetic hairless rats in vivo.     

可分离微针研究进展

可分离微针属于可溶性微针的一种,应用于皮肤后其针尖与背衬可快速分离,有效减少了微针的佩戴时间以及提高了给药效率,是一种新型透皮给药系统,因此近年来成为研究热点。目前国内外已经开发出多种形式的可分离微针,体内外研究证实可分离微针具有广阔的应用前景。本文概述了当前可分离微针的特点与分类,以期对后续可分离微针的开发与应用提供参考。     

Microneedles and transdermal applications

With the limitations of oral drug delivery and the pain and needle phobias associated with traditional injections, drug delivery research has focused on the transdermal delivery route. A formidable barrier to transdermal drug delivery is the stratum corneum, the superficial layer of the skin. In the last 10 years, microneedles were proposed as a mechanical tool to pierce through the stratum corneum, in order to create drug delivery channels without stimulating underlying pain nerves. Since then, the field of microneedles has rapidly evolved to spawn a plethora of potential transdermal applications. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the progress in microneedle research and design, and the advancements that have been made in employing this technology for transdermal applications.     

不锈钢微针经皮给药的研究

目的：将不锈钢微针阵列应用于经皮给药。考察离体大鼠皮肤经不同针形微针预处理相同时间、相同针形微针预处理不同时间后，模型药物鬼臼毒素经大鼠皮肤的透皮能力。方法：微针预处理大鼠皮肤后，用改进的Franz扩散池研究鬼臼毒素对皮肤的透皮速率。高效液相色谱法测定鬼臼毒素的含量。结果：皮肤经微针预处理后进行鬼臼毒素透皮，其透皮速率比未经微针处理时有明显提高。三角形微针、梯形微针、矛形微针对鬼臼毒素的促渗能力依次增强；三者所引起的鬼臼毒素在皮肤中的滞留量有显著差异。同种针形微针预处理皮肤时间越长，鬼臼毒素的透皮速率越大；但微针预处理时间对皮肤中的药物滞留量无显著影响。结论：微针用于药物经皮给药时，微针针形、微针的预处理时间对药物的经皮渗透具有重要影响。     

Transdermal patches: history,development and pharmacology

Transdermal patches are now widely used as cosmetic, topical and transdermal delivery systems. These patches represent a key outcome from the growth in skin science, technology and expertise developed through trial and error, clinical observation and evidence-based studies that date back to the first existing human records. This review begins with the earliest topical therapies and traces topical delivery to the present-day transdermal patches, describing along the way the initial trials, devices and drug delivery systems that underpin current transdermal patches and their actives. This is followed by consideration of the evolution in the various patch designs and their limitations as well as requirements for actives to be used for transdermal delivery. The properties of and issues associated with the use of currently marketed products, such as variability, safety and regulatory aspects, are then described. The review concludes by examining future prospects for transdermal patches and drug delivery systems, such as the combination of active delivery systems with patches, minimally invasive microneedle patches and cutaneous solutions, including metered-dose systems.     

Touch-actuated microneedle array patch for closed-loop transdermal drug delivery

To date, only approximately 20 drugs synthesized with small molecules have been approved by the FDA for use in traditional transdermal patches (TTP) owing to the extremely low permeation rate of the skin barrier for macromolecular drugs. A novel touch-actuated microneedle array patch (TMAP) was developed for transdermal delivery of liquid macromolecular drugs. TMAP is a combination of a typical TTP and a solid microneedle array (MA). High doses of liquid drug formulations, especially heat-sensitive compounds can be easily filled and stored in the drug reservoir of TMAPs. TMAP can easily penetrate the skin and automatically retract from it to create microchannels through the stratum corneum (SC) layer using touch-actuated ‘press and release’ actions for passive permeation of liquid drugs. Comparison of subcutaneous injection, TTP, solid MA, and dissolvable MA, indicated that insulin-loaded TMAP exhibited the best hypoglycemic effect on type 1 diabetic rats. A ‘closed-loop’ permeation control was also provided for on-demand insulin delivery based on feedback of blood glucose levels (BGLs). Twenty IU-insulin-loaded TMAP maintained the type 1 diabetic rats in a normoglycemic state for approximately 11.63?h, the longest therapeutic duration among all previously reported results on microneedle-based transdermal patches. TMAP possesses excellent transdermal drug delivery capabilities.     

Effects of pretreatment of needle puncture and sandpaper abrasion on the in vitro skin permeation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran

Microneedle systems have gained attention as having many advantages over transdermal patches and hypodermic needles. The procedure provides adequate skin permeation rates without pain or severe infection. To obtain information for designing a microneedle system, macroneedles were used instead of microneedles to investigate the effects of pretreatment of needle puncture in the skin barrier stratum corneum on in vitro skin permeation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextrans (4.3, 9.6 and 42.0 kDa) (FD-4, FD-10 and FD-40). The effect of sandpaper abrasion was also investigated for comparison. Both pretreatments on the skin barrier significantly increased the skin permeation of FDs. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leaching was measured after pretreatment of macroneedle and sandpaper abrasion on the skin to evaluate the skin damage by these pretreatment methods. Lower leaching of LDH was observed after macroneedle puncture than after sandpaper abrasion. Next, a parallel permeation-resistance model of the skin barrier was established. Skin permeation of FD-10 was predicted by the model as a function of the number of pores in the skin barrier. Our results suggest that needle puncture may provide a safe, efficient and controllable alternative for increasing transdermal drug delivery.     

Production of dissolvable microneedles using an atomised spray process: Effect of microneedle composition on skin penetration

Dissolvable microneedles offer an attractive delivery system for transdermal drug and vaccine delivery. They are most commonly formed by filling a microneedle mold with liquid formulation using vacuum or centrifugation to overcome the constraints of surface tension and solution viscosity. Here, we demonstrate a novel microneedle fabrication method employing an atomised spray technique that minimises the effects of the liquid surface tension and viscosity when filling molds. This spray method was successfully used to fabricate dissolvable microneedles (DMN) from a wide range of sugars (trehalose, fructose and raffinose) and polymeric materials (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and sodium alginate). Fabrication by spraying produced microneedles with amorphous content using single sugar compositions. These microneedles displayed sharp tips and had complete fidelity to the master silicon template. Using a method to quantify the consistency of DMN penetration into different skin layers, we demonstrate that the material of construction significantly influenced the extent of skin penetration. We demonstrate that this spraying method can be adapted to produce novel laminate-layered as well as horizontally-layered DMN arrays. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the use of an atomising spray, at ambient, mild processing conditions, to create dissolvable microneedle arrays that can possess novel, laminate layering.     

Fabrication and characterisation of self-applicating heparin sodium microneedle patches

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop heparin sodium loaded microneedle patches using different compositions of polyvinyl alcohol polymer and sorbitol. A vacuum micromolding technique was used to fabricate microneedle patches while heparin sodium was loaded into needle tips. Physical features of patches were evaluated by measuring thickness, width, folding endurance and swelling percentage. Patches were also characterised by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine the microneedle length and surface morphologies. A preliminary assessment of the microneedle performance was studied by examining the in-vitro insertion to the parafilm and recording the in-vitro drug release profile. In-vivo activity of patches was confirmed by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time and histological examination of the micropierced skin tissues. Prepared patches were clear, smooth; uniform in appearance; with sharp pointed microprojections and remained intact after 1000 folding. The microneedles were stiffer in nature, as they reproduce microcavities in the parafilm membrane following hand pushing without any structural loss. Insertion study results showed successful insertion of microneedles into the parafilm. Disrupted stratum corneum evident from histological examination confirmed successful insertion of the microneedle without affecting the vasculature. In-vitro release study confirmed ～92% release of the loaded drug within 120?min. A significant prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (4 folds as compared to negative control) was recorded following the application of heparin sodium loaded microneedle patch onto rabbit skin. In conclusion microneedles are a valuable drug delivery system, benefiting the patients with minimal skin invasion and also allowing self-administration of heparin sodium in a sustained release manner for the management of chronic ailments.     

Erythropoietin-Coated ZP-Microneedle Transdermal System: Preclinical Formulation, Stability, and Delivery

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of coating formulated recombinant human erythropoietin alfa (EPO) on a titanium microneedle transdermal delivery system, ZP-EPO, and assess preclinical patch delivery performance.

Methods

Formulation rheology and surface activity were assessed by viscometry and contact angle measurement. EPO liquid formulation was coated onto titanium microneedles by dip-coating and drying. Stability of coated EPO was assessed by SEC-HPLC, CZE and potency assay. Preclinical in vivo delivery and pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats with EPO-coated microneedle patches and compared to subcutaneous EPO injection.

Results

Studies demonstrated successful EPO formulation development and coating on microneedle arrays. ZP-EPO patch was stable at 25°C for at least 3?months with no significant change in % aggregates, isoforms, or potency. Preclinical studies in rats showed the ZP-EPO microneedle patches, coated with 750?IU to 22,000?IU, delivered with high efficiency (75?C90%) with a linear dose response. PK profile was similar to subcutaneous injection of commercial EPO.

Conclusions

Results suggest transdermal microneedle patch delivery of EPO is feasible and may offer an efficient, dose-adjustable, patient-friendly alternative to current intravenous or subcutaneous routes of administration.