Phase-transition Hydrogel Microneedle

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Non invasive delivery of protein and peptide drugs that require frequent administration such as insulin is a still standing challenge despite extensive research efforts over the last years We have recently developed a unique microneedle system the phase transition microneedle patch PTM which has proven to be a feasible dosage form by pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies using healthy and diabetic pig models PTM releases its cargo in the skin interstitial fluid by swelling instead of dissolution o its needle tips for which skin deposition of the polymeric materials as seen in dissolvable microneedles is avoided The water insoluble microneedles of PTM are comprised of a chemically inert pharmaceutical excipient polyvinyl alcohol PVA formed by a freeze thaw induced formation of microcrystalline domains as the cross linking junctions of the needle tip matrix Proteins and peptides can therefore be safely loaded in microneedle tips without being denatured by the cross linking reactions as is true of the chemically cross linked hydrogel forming microneedles The ultimate goal of the proposed study is to develop a practical insulin microneedle patch to control the basal blood sugar levels in diabetic patients without pain sensation or skin damage The specific aims of this study are optimization of the polymer components and fabrication process of PTM to achieve a steady sustained release of insulin for daily administration and obtaining pharmacokinetic parameters of the insulin PTM patch in pig models The animal experiment will be carried out at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical Schools the collaborator animal facility according to the institutional guidance for using vertebrate animals PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Despite decades of research efforts to develop an alternative delivery solution insulin an essential medicine for managing diabetes is typically administered to patients by frequent injections Our newly developed insulin skin patch delivery system called phase transition microneedle PTM patch circumvents any pain sensation or skin damage by utilizing an array of polymer microneedles pre loaded with insulin that absorb fluid from the skin to swell and accurately and efficiently deliver insulin therapy transdermally The present study is aimed to develop and characterize this preliminary invention into a medicinal patch to replace daily insulin injections for controlling the basal blood sugar of diabetic patients