Transdermal Delivery System for Therapeutic Molecules

The development of portable systems for use in a zero gravity environment provides both NASA and astronauts with improved response in life-threatening crisis or prevention and/or ongoing treatment of a disorder. Portable systems for astronauts include a large range of devices including biosensors and drug administration devices. Current methods for administration of therapeutic molecules to treat illness or injuries to an astronaut while in space include the use of hypodermic needles and oral ingestion. Thus there is a great need to develop a therapeutic molecule delivery system that is non-invasive, painless, and accurate (within ?10%). In this project, we will develop a non-invasive, painless, transdermal therapeutic molecule delivery device. The device will uniquely combine microencapsulation of molecules and iontophoresis into a wearable system. The Phase I research will demonstrate the feasibility of iontophoretic transfer of microencapsulated drugs through a model skin sample using a microfluidic system. In Phase II, a pharmacological study of the release rate of the therapeutic molecules from microencapsulation will allow for further optimization of the microfluidic system to produce the complete delivery device.