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Active micro-needles

Published on 10 May 2023

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Smart micro-needles

Measure biological parameters and cure

Less invasive than traditional needles, micro-needles reach the deep layers of the epidermis to deliver drugs, measure physiological characteristics, or send light to specific wavelengths. CEA-Leti has developed and qualified a new technology of biocompatible polymer micro-needles, ranging in length from 250 μm to 1500 μm. Directly applicable to the skin, multiple assembly can cover several square centimeters.


​​What's new?

Specialized in biomaterials, CEA-Leti is able to monitor a broad range of biocompatible polymer or silicon materials to create smart micro-needles that can deploy electrochemical, electrical, or optical functions. CEA-Leti experts are working on several projects, from feasibility studies to small-scale qualification to pre-clinical validation, such as:

  • Photosensitizer delivery (5-ALA) to treat melanomas, both easier and quicker to use for practitioners and less painful for patients

  • On-demand insulin delivery using micro-needles coupled with a luminous actuator

  • A preclinical study to check the performance of active micro-needles for local and deep anesthesia

  • Hydrogel or hollow micro-needle to sample interstitial fluid for diagnostic

 ​​What’s next?
Several preclinical projects are underway to develop micro-needles devoted to wearable measurement, combining interstitial liquid collection with electrical, electrochemical, or optical measurements. These systems will pave the way to continuous monitoring of several metabolites involved in various pathologies. Large-scale manufacturing processes are also being developed.


​​Applications


• Transdermal delivery of active ingredients: chemical drugs, proteins, nucleic acid, and vaccine formulations over short, medium, or long periods (3 min to several days)

• In-situ measurement of dermal parameters (pH, impedance)

• Interstitial fluid collection and electrochemical measurement of biomarkers (pH, glucose, lactate, cancer biomarkers, etc.)

• Optical waveguide for measuring and curing

​​Publications
• ”A facile fabrication of dissolving micro-needles containing 5-aminolevulinic Acid“, Int. m. 586, 119554, 2020

• ”Introduction of a model of skin lesions on rats and testing of dissolving micro-needles containing 5-aminolevulinic“, Int. m. 594, 120115, 2021

• ”Innovative transdermal delivery of insulin using gelatin methacrylate-based microneedle patches in mice and mini-pigs“, Nanoscale Horiz. 7, 174-184, 2022
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