Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new wearable patch that can deliver drugs through the skin more efficiently and painlessly. This device uses pulses of ultrasound to pry open the skin. This may improve topical medications and even tattoos.
Many drugs are administered orally or intravenously, but the former requires larger doses, the latter is uncomfortable, and both are difficult to target to specific areas. The team wanted to develop a way to deliver drugs directly to where they are needed, through the skin.
The team calls the system the Conformable Ultrasound Sonophoresis Patch (cUSP), which is contained in a hydrogel that adheres to the wearer’s skin. Inside the patch are his four transducers connected by copper wires to conduct electricity. Above each transducer is a cavity containing drug molecules dissolved in a liquid that vibrates to create gas bubbles in the liquid when the transducer is powered. This creates microjets of liquid that are shot through the tough outer layer of the skin.
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Researchers tested the system on pig skin samples to supply a type of B vitamin called niacinamide, which is used in many sunscreens and moisturizers. They found that cUSP could send 26 times more drug molecules through the skin than a patch without the help of ultrasound.
They also compared it to another new method of painless drug delivery, which is a microneedle patch containing tiny lyophilized spikes of drug that penetrate and dissolve in the skin. We were able to deliver the payload in 30 minutes, while the microneedle patch took 6 hours to deliver the same amount.
The researchers say the technology could be particularly useful in delivering drugs to treat skin conditions such as burns, skin cancer, and symptoms of aging. For example, payloads such as fentanyl and hormones such as insulin and progesterone can be sent deeper to reach the bloodstream. Ultimately, it may help you get a tattoo painlessly.
“The ease of use and high reproducibility offered by this system offer an innovative alternative for patients and consumers suffering from skin conditions and premature skin aging.” less, more localized, more comfortable, and more controllable.”
A study was published in a journal advanced materialsThe team explains their work in the video below.
cUSP – Conformable Ultrasound Sonophoresis Patch
Source: MIT
