Fabrication of Silk Microneedles for Controlled‐Release Drug Delivery

• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201102012
• Publication Date: 2011-12-03T10:18:00Z
• Authors: Konstantinos Tsioris; Waseem K. Raja; Eleanor M. Pritchard; Bruce Panilaitis; David L. Kaplan; Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
• Keywords: Fibroin; Biocompatibility; Biomaterial

Abstract Microneedles are emerging as a minimally invasive drug delivery alternative to hypodermic needles. Current material systems utilized in microneedles impose constraints hindering the further development of this technology. In particular, it is difficult preserve sensitive biochemical compounds (such pharmaceuticals) during processing single microneedle system and subsequently achieve their controlled release. A possible solution involves fabricating from biomaterial silk fibroin. Silk fibroin combines excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, benign conditions, ability maintain activity biological entrained its matrix. The degradation rate diffusion molecules can be simply by adjusting post‐processing conditions. This combination properties makes an ideal choice improve on existing issues associated with other microneedle‐based system. study, fabrication method produce biopolymer microstructures high aspect ratios required manufacture reported. Room temperature aqueous‐based micromolding allows for bulk loading these labile drugs. release decreased 5.6‐fold conditions microneedles, mainly controlling protein secondary structure. kinetics quantified vitro collagen hydrogel model, which tracking model drug. Antibiotic loaded manufactured used demonstrate 10‐fold reduction bacterial density after application. strategies developed study expanded silk‐based structural formats biologicals storage applications.