Pulsated in-Situ Dried Electrostretching Fabrication of Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery

This paper reports a pioneering technique to fabricate microneedles (MNs) for transdermal drug delivery utilizing pulsated in-situ dried electrostretching (PIDES). This approach applies pulsed voltage to generate electrohydrodynamic forces that stretch and solidify a polymer droplet into a conical shape with a micrometer-scale tip. As the solvent evaporates, the polymer droplet is stretched in-situ into a cone and hardens, forming a sharp MN ideal for transdermal drug delivery. Penetration and mechanical tests confirm that the MNS have the necessary sharpness and strength for effective skin penetration. Furthermore, curcumin loading and a release test show that the MNS can effectively carry drugs and provide a gradual release of drug. These results demonstrate that PIDES is a promising, cost-effective, and straightforward method for developing efficient and painless transdermal drug delivery systems.