title: Microneedles and transdermal applications.
abstract: With the limitations of oral drug delivery and the pain and needle phobias associated with traditional injections, drug delivery research has focused on the transdermal delivery route. A formidable barrier to transdermal drug delivery is the stratum corneum, the superficial layer of the skin. In the last 10 years, microneedles were proposed as a mechanical tool to pierce through the stratum corneum, in order to create drug delivery channels without stimulating underlying pain nerves. Since then, the field of microneedles has rapidly evolved to spawn a plethora of potential transdermal applications. In this review, the authors provide an overview of the progress in microneedle research and design, and the advancements that have been made in employing this technology for transdermal applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Raja K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sivamani
authors.forename: Dorian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liepmann
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008845:Microinjections / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009339:Needles; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012212:Rheology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations