Parikh RK

Diabetes mellitus  is a chronic disease that is characterized by inadequate pancreatic insulin secretion or poor insulin directed mobilization of glucose by target cells. Population affected with diabetes has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million till date. So, it is clearly evident that the rate is alarming and diabetes has now become a global problem. Diabetes is seventh leading cause of death globally. Insulin therapy in diabetes is the commonest and the most effective therapy. Conventional methods like subcutaneous or the oral route are having several shortcomings like the pain and invasion associated with injections, oral degradation of insulin, infection, etc. Among all the demerits hypoglycemia is the major issue especially nocturnal hypoglycemia as the patient cannot monitor the level of glucose at night. To overcome these detriments there is a need for insulin delivery through novel technologies.  Many novel technologies have been proposed like the painless smart patch, Clicksoft microinjection device, pens, pumps, modified oral delivery oral delivery, inhaled insulin, etc. for the delivery of insulin.  Many other novel devices and routes are being developed. This review discusses the glimpse of these novel technologies with their pros and cons.

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.