Needle-free transdermal delivery using PLGA nanoparticles: Effect of particle size, injection pressure and syringe orifice diameter

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of particle size and other injection factors on the skin penetration of nanoparticles delivered with a needle-free injector. Experimental and simulation tests were carried out at various parameters. In addition to testing different sizes of nanoparticles, we also observed the effects of several injection pressures and syringe orifice diameters (SOD) on the dispersion pattern of the nanoparticles after injection. Our results showed that as the nanoparticle size increased from 45 nm to 452 nm, the resulting puncture opening, channel diameter, and depth of the nanoparticle dispersion decreased, but the width of the dispersion increased. Conversely, as the SOD increased, the puncture opening, channel diameter, and depth of the dispersion increased, but width of the dispersion decreased. Increasing the injection pressure also decreased the size, depth, and width of the puncture opening. These results identify how these three parameters affect nanoparticle delivery from a needle-free injector; therefore, our findings will be beneficial for optimization and further study of needle-free injectors as a mechanism for transdermal delivery of nanoparticles. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.