Microneedle Array for Targeted Bioactive Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering bioactive substances and stimuli to target cells within the body face challenges such as cross-contamination, injection phobia, inability to target key skin cells, and adverse effects due to high strain-rate loading and cell death caused by existing needle-free delivery methods like ballistic particle delivery.
Innovation Solution
A device with a large number of projections, specifically designed to penetrate the body surface, where the number and spacing of projections are optimized to target cells, cell organelles, or cell nuclei, minimizing cell damage and ensuring effective delivery of bioactive materials without the need for precise directional control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If needle-free ballistic particle delivery is used to breach the stratum corneum, then delivery to viable epidermis is achieved, but high strain-rate loading causes cell death and adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the delivery system into two distinct components: (1) a microneedle array that breaches the stratum corneum at low strain rates to create microchannels, and (2) a separate bioactive material application step. This segmentation eliminates the high strain-rate cell damage associated with ballistic delivery while maintaining effective delivery to viable epidermis and dermis.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedles serve as an intermediary mechanism between the bioactive material and the skin barrier. Instead of directly impacting particles at high velocity, the microneedles first create controlled microchannels that facilitate subsequent material delivery, acting as a mediator that avoids direct high-strain-rate cell interaction.
2Reliability
If intradermal injection with needle and syringe is used, then delivery to deep skin layers is achieved, but cross-contamination and injection phobia occur
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle array is designed as a disposable device that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates cross-contamination risks between patients and removes the need for sterilization procedures, while the disposable nature also eliminates injection phobia associated with reusable needles and syringes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful needle component from the delivery system by replacing it with solid microneedles that breach the skin barrier without the associated risks of needle-stick injuries, cross-contamination, and injection phobia, while maintaining effective delivery capability.
3Reliability
If conventional injection methods are used, then delivery to deep tissue is achieved, but key skin cells in outer layers cannot be targeted
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle array is designed with specific geometric characteristics (size, shape, spacing, and distribution) that enable localized targeting of key skin cells in the outer layers. The microneedles are sized to penetrate the stratum corneum and reach viable epidermis without overshooting into deep dermis, providing local quality control for precise cellular targeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point injection approach to a two-dimensional array of microneedles, enabling simultaneous targeting of multiple key skin cells across a broader surface area. This dimensional change from one-dimensional needle insertion to two-dimensional array contact improves both coverage and targeting precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for delivery of material or stimulus to targets within a body to produce a desired response, the targets being at least one of cells of interest, cell organelles of interest and cell nuclei of interest. The device includes a number of projections for penetrating a body surface, with the number of projections being selected to produce a desired response, and the number being at least 500. A spacing between projections is also at least partially determined based on an arrangement of the targets within the body.