title: Polymer microneedles for transdermal drug delivery.
abstract: A microneedle system has been developed to deliver chemical and biological agents through the stratum corneum, which is the main barrier to drug delivery. Recently, microneedles have been fabricated from various kinds of polymers, including biocompatible polymer, biodegradable polymer, and water-soluble polymer. Polymer microneedles offer the benefits of ease of fabrication, cost-effectiveness, and mass production, as well as controlled drug release using the water solubility and degradation properties of polymer. In this review, the key features of polymer microneedles are discussed, including fabrication, materials, mechanical properties, drug delivery properties, and applications. Polymer microneedles provide a promising method for transdermal drug delivery by utilizing various physical and chemical properties of polymer.
authors.affiliation: a School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Jeong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: b Department of BioNano Technology and Gachon BioNano Research Institute, Gachon University , Seongnam, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee-Ree
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: b Department of BioNano Technology and Gachon BioNano Research Institute, Gachon University , Seongnam, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park