Microneedle Patch Gel Membrane Electrospinning Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-needle patches face challenges in increasing drug delivery capacity and reducing production costs, as the amount of medication injected is limited by micro-protrusion size, leading to higher production costs and inefficiencies in skin cosmetic treatments.
Innovation Solution
A micro-needle patch with a gel membrane formed using electrospinning or electrospraying methods, where a biodegradable resin mixture of the drug or skin cosmetic treatment fluid is evenly distributed on a support with micro-needles, allowing for efficient penetration and distribution through microholes formed by the needles, reducing manufacturing time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If micro-protrusions are used to penetrate the skin and deliver drugs, then the patch causes little pain and is easy to use, but the amount of medicine that can be injected is limited by the size of the micro-projections, leading to increased production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the drug delivery system into two distinct components: (1) micro-protrusions that penetrate the skin to create channels, and (2) a separate gel membrane containing the drug formulation. This segmentation allows the gel membrane to be optimized for drug loading capacity independent of the micro-protrusion size, thereby increasing the amount of medicine that can be delivered without increasing the complexity or cost of the penetration mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional approach (drug contained within micro-protrusions) to a two-dimensional approach (gel membrane covering the array of micro-protrusions). This dimensional expansion provides a larger surface area for drug incorporation, enabling significantly higher drug loading capacity while maintaining the same micro-protrusion penetration capability, thus reducing the cost per unit of drug delivered.
2Productivity
If a gel membrane is formed using electrospinning or electrospraying methods with evenly distributed drug, then the drug permeates smoothly into the skin and transfers quickly via passages, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical drug delivery methods with electrospinning or electrospraying techniques to form the gel membrane. These methods use electrical fields to propel and deposit the drug-containing polymer solution, creating a uniformly distributed gel membrane without complex mechanical assembly steps. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving superior drug distribution and transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the electrospinning/electrospraying process (such as voltage, flow rate, and solution composition) to control the morphology, porosity, and drug distribution of the gel membrane. By optimizing these parameters, the process achieves high productivity and smooth drug permeation into the skin through the micro-protrusion passages, while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple and controllable.
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 micro-needle patch effectively increases the delivery capacity of drugs and skin cosmetic treatments by forming passages for smooth penetration, improving healing and cosmetic treatment effects while reducing production costs and time through the use of a gel membrane and biodegradable materials.
Implementation Method 1
forming a gel membrane for delivery of a transmitter to be transferred into a thin film, in which a drug or skin cosmetic treatment fluid is evenly distributed on the gel membrane by an electrospinning or electrospraying method
Implementation Method 2
forming a gel membrane for delivery of a transmitter to be transferred into a thin film, in which a drug or skin cosmetic treatment fluid is evenly distributed on the gel membrane by an electrospinning or electrospraying method
Implementation Method 3
infiltrates a transmitter to be transferred such as a drug or skin cosmetic treatment fluid from passages formed by penetrating the micro-needles from a support or passages formed by penetrating the support, into the microholes formed on the skin
Implementation Method 4
passages are formed by penetrating each of the support and the plurality of micro-needles or formed by penetrating the support between the plurality of micro-needles, so that the transmitter of the gel membrane is transferred to the skin
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a micro-needle patch and a manufacturing method thereof. The micro-needle patch includes: a support on one surface of which grooves are formed; a gel membrane for delivery of a transmitter to be transferred in which the grooves are filled with a mixture of the transmitter with a biodradable resin, the mixture being in a gel phase; a plurality of micro-needles projected on the other surface of the support and for penetrating the skin; a first protective film that covers the gel membrane and is adhered on the support; and a second protective film that covers the plurality of micro-needles and is adhered on the other surface, wherein passages are formed by being penetrated from the support to each of the plurality of micro-needles or formed by penetrating the support between the plurality of micro-needles, so that the transmitter of the gel membrane is transferred to the skin.