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3554007

From natural polymers to sophisticated hydrogel microneedle based patches for dermal applications

Date
April 15, 2021

The fabrication of biopolymeric microneedles (MNs), viz. arrays of small needle-like projections of micron-sized dimensions, has gained increasing attention in the last decade for both pain-free drug delivery (DD) and interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction [1]. Several biopolymers have been reported in the preparation of MNs, with polysaccharides (e.g., nanocellulose) and proteins (e.g., gelatin) being the most widely studied [1].
In this communication, biopolymeric hydrogel based MNs recently developed by our research team, through simple and greener fabrication methodologies, will be presented. Focus will be placed on two advanced biopolymer-based MNs systems, namely (i) bacterial nanocellulose-hyaluronic acid-rutin MNs patches for skin applications [2], and (ii) swellable gelatin MNs for ISF extraction toward minimally invasive monitoring of urea [3]. Overall, the superior versatility of these biopolymeric MNs, supported the development of advanced healthcare systems directed for the administration of bioactive molecules and ISF extraction.

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