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Minimally Invasive Protein Delivery with Rapidly Dissolving Polymer Microneedles
Author(s) -
Sullivan S. P.,
Murthy N.,
Prausnitz M. R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200701205
Subject(s) - materials science , dissolution , polymer , nanotechnology , biomolecule , drug delivery , polymerization , hypodermic needle , micrometer , monomer , in situ polymerization , biomedical engineering , chemical engineering , composite material , syringe , medicine , engineering , psychology , physics , optics , psychiatry
A new room‐temperature, in situ polymerization process to produce microneedles (see figure), which can encapsulate functional biomolecules and dissolve within minutes, is presented. The dissolution rate and mechanical strength of these polymer microneedles can be tailored by changing monomer composition and microneedle geometry. Drug delivery using micrometer‐scale needles that dissolve in the skin could eliminate the pain and dangers of hypodermic needle use.