Thakur, Rashmi A.. Design of polymeric delivery system with targeted drug release profiles for hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3M61KM7
DescriptionThe delivery of hydrophilic drugs and macromolecules through the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, is particularly challenging. The use of chemical enhancers, iontophoresis, sonophoresis and microneedles are some methods of overcoming the barrier properties of the skin and achieving transdermal drug delivery. One of the versatile approaches is the use of microneedles for delivery of therapeutic agents to various depths in the skin and in addition for controlled releasing drug polymer coatings. In our study silicon microneedles were coated with a polymer-drug combination. Dip coating and electrospinning, a technique of making polymer nanofibers, were two methods employed to achieve such coatings. Dual drug loading in a single electrospun scaffold was also be attempted by a novel dual spinneret technique established by us. This scaffold was created as a potential wound healing dressing. This method of electrospinning enabled inclusion of larger quantities of two actives into the same scaffold. Such electrospun polymer fibers were directly deposited on microneedles and evaluated for drug release characteristics. It is expected that this novel drug delivery system will eventually allow immediate as well as sustained release of not only hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds but also high molecular weight compounds.