3D Printed Micro-Needles to Help Deliver Drug Without Pain

US researchers produced a drug-loaded array for transdermal delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug where the drug is administered through the skin.

To produce a 3D 'micro-printed' array of needles capable of delivering drug without causing any pain, US researchers have developed a new technique thereby offering a potential alternative to painful injections.

The needles are made from a biomaterial that would degrade in the patient's body after delivering the drug. The device could be used in treatments for a wide range of diseases, including skin cancers.

Drug Delivery System
Drug delivery systems, is a technology using various chemicals to bind the target drugs, carry them to target organ, tissue or cell where the drug is released at a pre-determined rate.

In this study, the researchers reported producing a drug-loaded array for transdermal delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug where the drug is administered through the skin.

The arrays consist of 25 poly (propylene fumarate) micro-needles, each needle having a tip and base diameter of 20 micrometer and 200 micrometer, respectively, and a height of one mm.

Constructing the array was challenging, said one of the study authors Jae-Won Choi from University of Akron in Ohio, US.

Drug Delivery Systems - Use in Diabetes Management
Different types of drug delivery systems for insulin delivery have been extensively researched recently. Oral route and transdermal drug delivery systems are among the advanced drug delivery systems.

"3D printing this array was difficult, as the printable biomaterial contains some non-printable solvents and drugs," Choi noted.

Dacarbazine, commonly used to treat skin cancer, was blended into the solution prior to cross-linking (a final part of the 3D printing process).

Oncology Drug Delivery Systems
Drug delivery in oncology offers a localized, prolonged and protected drug interaction with the cancer cells and reduces the side effects.

The needles were then tested and shown to be able to withstand the stresses and strains they would likely be submitted to when inserted into the body.

"We'd like to have a faster drug release, but this will require more material research. Once we improve this process we can look at developing more controlled drug release," Choi noted.

New Targeted Drug Delivery System May Improve Lung Disease Treatment
In this method, micro-litres of liquid containing a drug are instilled into the lung, distributed as a thin film in the predetermined region of the lung airway, and absorbed locally.

"I would hope we will see this being used clinically in five-10 years" he noted.

The results were published in the journal Biofabrication.

Source-IANS