Microneedles: A smart approach and increasing potential for transdermal drug delivery system

Author Name : Ms. Syeda Farheen Fatema, Mr. Solunke Shivaji Hanumant

ABSTRACT

The most widely used methods for transdermal administration of the drugs are hypodermic needles, topical creams, and transdermal patches. The effect of most of the therapeutic agents is limited due to the stratum corneum layer of the skin, which serves as a barrier for the molecules and thus only a few molecules are able to reach the site of action. A new form of delivery system called the micro needles helps to enhance the delivery of the drug through this route and overcoming the various problems associated with the conventional formulations, the primary principle involved disruption of the skin layer, thus creating micron size pathways that lead the drug directly to the epidermis or upper dermis region from where the drug can directly go the systemic circulation without facing the barrier. This review describes the various potential and applications of the micro needles. This system has increased its application to many fields like oligonucleotides delivery, vaccine delivery, including delivery and even in cosmetics.

Key words: Microneedle, Transdermal drug delivery system, oligonuliotide delivery, vaccine delivery, drug delivery in cosmetics.