Design and optimization of a drug delivery device using Microneedle technology

Drugs are used to improve the health and the quality of life of patients suffering particular diseases. Medication can be consumed in several ways, although not all of them are suitable for each type of drug. Recently, new methods of delivering drugs through the skin have been investigated, in order to overcome the obstacles shown by traditional methods.Microneedle (MN) technology has become an effective alternative to the traditional delivery strategies and it has made an important contribution to medical practice. MNs are shown to be successfully able to pierce the outermost skin layer, being minimally invasive and less painful compared to a conventional hypodermic needle. MN patches are an example of a new method to deliver medications through the skin.The main goal of this project was to develop a drug delivery device incorporating MN technology together with the embedding of microsensors, in order to monitor the status of the device and deliver the right amount of therapy when needed. The system has been realized by integrating novel hollow MNs with a micropump to deliver drug at different flow rates, a pressure sensor for detecting possible leakages and golden MN patches for skin resistance measurement, in order to check the quality of the skin-patch connection. Other components such as a PCB, a Bluetooth module and a battery, already present in previous prototypes, were included as well.In order to encapsulate all these components, a new device packaging was designed. In addition, a mobile application for interacting with the device was then developed.Further research is recommended to assess the integration of new sensors, performance of in vitro and in vivo tests and final placing on the market.