2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Porous Microneedles filled with an Glucose-responsive Hydrogel for Self-Regulated Insulin Delivery
| Project/Area Number |
21K20525
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| Research Institution | Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Sclence and Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
Barthelmes Kevin 地方独立行政法人神奈川県立産業技術総合研究所, 「貼るだけ人工膵臓」プロジェクト (松元P), 研究員(任期有) (60908078)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Microneedle / Drug release / Hydrogel / Encapsulation / Diabetes / Insulin |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Our purpose is to fabricate mechanically-stable, porous microneedle (PMN) arrays strengthened by a drug-releasing hydrogel filling. So far, we have investigated polyether sulfone (PES) as a polymeric material for the PMN fabrication. The arrays were made by slow diffusion of benzene into a PES solution and a subsequent washing process. By this method, the porosity could be adjusted between 60-80% depending on the benzene amount.
The PMN arrays readily absorbed a hydrogel monomer solutions due to their high porosity and could subsequently be thermally polymerized. Tensile stress tests revealed that the mechanical strength increased from 0.6 N (empty PMN) to 1 N (filled PMN) per needle. Moreover, the filled PMN could successfully penetrate mice skin and continuous drug release was observed.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The research is progressing quite smoothly as less time has been spent testing different polymer materials. Already the first investigated PES polymer fulfilled our requirements in terms of porosity and mechanical strength and PMN could be readily prepared. Moreover, in combination with the hydrogel filling, the mechanical stability could be further strengthened while the drug release capability was maintained.
Additionally, a new balance for our pycnometer was purchased. This allowed us to determine the porosity of the PMN more easily and examine more samples.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Although it was easy to fill the pores with the hydrogel monomer solutions, it was rather difficult to subsequently load the filled PMNs with a water-soluble drug (i.e., insulin). The used material is a very hydrophobic polymer and the water absorption was limited. For this reason, we want to investigate other polymeric materials to increase the hydrophilicity. For example, polyethylene or cellulose could be promising materials for the fabrication of PMNs. Moreover, surface modification by plasma or chemical treatment could further improve the water absorptivity.
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[Presentation] 高分子ゲルの階層的エンジニアリングによる持続型マイクロニードルデバイスの開発2021
Author(s)
松元 亮, Siyuan Chen, 宮崎 拓也, 伊藤 美智子, Barthelmes Kevin, 松本 裕子, 金井 紗綾香, 池原 清, 諸岡 由佳, 木村 慎一郎, 田中 都, 菅波 孝祥, 宮原 裕二
Organizer
第70回高分子討論会
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