Accelerated polyphenol-containing microneedle drug delivery using ultrasound

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18779
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 20:Mechanical dynamics, robotics, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kurashina Yuta 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (40801535)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 本田 雄士 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 助教 (90907742)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波 / 高分子医薬品 / 薬剤送達 / 経皮投与 / マイクロニードル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Establishing a method of administering drugs through the skin is essential for drugs such as macromolecular drugs that are difficult to administer orally. As a method, a microneedle-based administration method has been devised. However, the most commonly used method is based on the diffusion phenomenon for drug administration due to its inefficiency. In this study, high-performance polymer micro-needles equipped with a piezoelectric element were punctured into the skin and irradiated with ultrasound to improve the efficiency of drug administration. As a result, the efficiency of fluorescent drug administration into porcine skin was improved. In the future, the materials of the microneedles and ultrasound conditions will be improved.

Free Research Field

マイクロ・ナノ工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究ではマイクロニードルに超音波を照射することで，投与効率に及ぼす効果について検討を実施した．皮膚界面では，固体と液体が混在した状態であり，さらに皮膚とマイクロニードルが接していることから，超音波により生じる効果について解析などで評価することは困難である．そのため，本研究により実験的に確かめることで，その効果の有効性を確かめることができ，マイクロニードルの新たな選択肢を示すことができた．また，マイクロニードルは美容以外の目的でほとんど実用化が実施されておらず，こうした知見はマイクロニードルの有効な幅を広げる知見につながり，今後の薬剤送達分野の発展に寄与できると期待する．