Micro needles: A Novel Trend for Transdermal Delivery technology

The transdermal route of drug delivery overcomes many of the limitations associated with the more common oral and parenteral routes. Micro needles are micronized needles made from biodegradable polymer, ranging from 25 to 2000 µm in height, made up of variety of the material and shape. Advantages associated with micro needles are ease of use, controlled drug delivery, avoidance of first pass metabolism and lack of pain. However, transdermal drug delivery is limited due to the barrier provided by our skin known as stratum corneum which is the outermost non-viable layer of the epidermis. Microneedles were developed with the advantage that these can deliver the drug in a non- invasive painless manner and along with this overcome stratum corneum. The upper layer of the skin is penetrated by the microneedles without reaching the nerve, there by delivering drug transdermally in a painless manner. The present poster discusses the various fabrication techniques of micro needles using microelectromechanical system the design, material consideration and the application of micro needles in transdermal drug delivery system.