Star-Shaped Microneedle Patch for Transdermal Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transdermal drug delivery patches face limitations in mechanical strength and absorption efficiency due to the size of the hollow space in microneedles, which affects skin penetration and drug absorption rates.
Innovation Solution
A transdermal drug delivery patch with star-shaped pyramidal microneedles having a radial protrusion structure and concave spaces between them, supported by a flexible base layer, enhancing mechanical strength and surface area for improved skin penetration and drug absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the hollow space size of the microneedle is increased, then the absorption efficiency of the drug is improved, but the mechanical strength of the microneedle weakens
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is divided into multiple radial protrusions (3-20 protrusions) that extend from the central axis, creating a star-shaped structure. This segmentation increases the surface area for drug absorption while the protrusions themselves provide structural support to maintain mechanical strength despite the hollow interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle transitions from a simple conical or pyramidal shape to a three-dimensional star-shaped pyramid with radial protrusions. This dimensional change adds surface area in the radial direction without significantly increasing the overall volume, thereby improving absorption efficiency while maintaining structural integrity.
2Productivity
If the surface area of the microneedle is increased, then the absorption efficiency of the drug is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A master mold with the star-shaped pyramid structure is created in advance using photopolymerization and a grayscale mask. This preliminary action allows the complex star-shaped microneedles to be manufactured efficiently through mold replication, avoiding the need to manufacture each complex microneedle individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex star-shaped microneedle structure is copied from the master mold to multiple microneedles simultaneously. The mold contains multiple cavities that replicate the star-shaped geometry, enabling mass production of complex structures with consistent geometry and controlled hollow spaces.
3Ease of manufacture
If the microneedle has a simple shape for manufacturing convenience, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the absorption efficiency of the drug is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The complex star-shaped microneedle structure is copied from the master mold to multiple microneedles simultaneously. The mold contains multiple cavities that replicate the star-shaped geometry, enabling mass production of complex structures with consistent geometry and controlled hollow spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface area to volume ratio is optimized by adjusting the number and arrangement of radial protrusions. By changing the geometric parameters (number of protrusions between 3-20, their radial extension length, and angular distribution), the absorption efficiency is enhanced while maintaining manufacturability through the mold replication process.
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 star-shaped microneedles with increased surface area and mechanical strength improve skin penetration efficiency and drug absorption rates, allowing for faster and more effective delivery of the drug into the body.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-needle made of a biodegradable polymer loaded with a drug... to allow a drug to decompose by body fluids
Implementation Method 2
irradiating light to the photo-curable polymer layer through the grayscale mask for a process of curing a part of the photo-curable polymer layer
Data Source
AI summary
A transdermal drug delivery patch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a flexible base layer; and a plurality of microneedle disposed at one surface of the base layer. Each of the plurality of microneedles includes a biodegradable polymer and a drug and has an empty space inside. Each of the plurality of microneedles is formed as a star-shaped pyramid including a plurality of protrusions extending in a radial direction, and a part between two protrusions adjacent along the circumferential direction among the plurality of protrusions is concave.