Flexible Microneedle for Dental Material Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microneedles for dental material delivery are not suitable for curved surfaces like the gums, as they cause pain and are not easily applied, and existing types like melting-type and coating microneedles have limitations in delivering a fixed amount of active ingredients quickly and safely without pollution.
Innovation Solution
A microneedle with a bendable base and water-soluble needle body coated with a viscous material containing an active ingredient, formed from polymers like PLGA and PCL, which can be easily shaped to fit the gums and dissolve after administration, ensuring quick and controlled delivery without residue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional microneedle is used for dental material delivery, then the active ingredient can be delivered to the tissue, but the microneedle causes pain and is difficult to apply on curved surfaces like gums
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle incorporates a bendable base portion that allows dynamic adaptation to curved surfaces like gums. The base portion can flex and conform to the irregular geometry of oral tissues, enabling easy application while maintaining needle integrity for effective active ingredient delivery without causing pain.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle employs a flexible base portion made from elastomeric materials that can bend and conform to curved surfaces. This flexible structure allows the microneedle to adapt to the irregular geometry of gums and other curved tissues, facilitating painless application and effective delivery of dental materials.
2Productivity
If a melting-type microneedle is used, then the microneedle can be delivered with one-time administration without remaining, but a relatively long period of time is required to melt and deliver the active ingredient
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle utilizes phase change materials with specifically selected melting points that allow controlled dissolution at body temperature. By adjusting the composition and crystalline structure of the active ingredient matrix, the microneedle achieves rapid melting and active ingredient release within minutes rather than hours, significantly improving delivery speed while maintaining single-use safety.
3Reliability
If a coating microneedle is used, then the microneedle can be simply manufactured and quickly deliver the active ingredient, but the needle remains after administration causing pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is constructed as a composite structure combining an elastomeric base portion with a water-soluble active ingredient matrix. The base portion remains intact for structural support and easy application, while the active ingredient matrix completely dissolves in aqueous environments, ensuring no residual pollution and complete delivery of the therapeutic agent.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The microneedle effectively delivers a fixed amount of active ingredients quickly and safely to the gums, minimizing pain and pollution, with the flexible design accommodating curved surfaces and the water-soluble material ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
the needle body portion is formed using a water-soluble material
Implementation Method 2
an active ingredient coating portion configured to coat the surface of the needle body portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a microneedle for dental material delivery, the microneedle including a needle body portion; an active ingredient coating portion configured to coat the surface of the needle body portion, and including an active ingredient transferred to the skin tissue within a mouth; and a base portion configured to couple with the needle body portion, and to bend along a skin shape within the mouth, wherein the base portion includes at least one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly lactide (PLA), poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), and polyglycolide (PGA).