Controlled transdermal drug delivery using a wireless magnetic microneedle patch: Preclinical device development

This paper presents a magnetic polymer-driven transdermal drug delivery system. Transdermal drug delivery has several advantages over oral and hypodermic administration, including painless delivery and avoiding first-pass metabolism. In this study, magnetic polymer composites (MPCs) and inductive sensing principles were utilized as the key actuator and sensor technologies to enable controlled drug release through a single hollow microneedle. The proposed system is capable of drug dispensing and dosage sensing, without the need for on-board electronics or batteries. Through experimental testing, the battery-less device demonstrated controllable zero-order and pulsatile drug release profiles, and was able to pierce and inject solution into excised human skin. This novel wireless pumping system provides the capability to control the volume dispensed for transdermal delivery in a compact, wearable form factor.