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Most topical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products are subjected to the challenging limitation of delivering large molecular weight drugs, such as macromolecules, peptides, insulin, vaccine, proteins, RNA, DNA, etc. via skin. Microneedles (MNs) have been developed to overcome the skin barrier by creating micro channels through skin which allow delivery of large molecular weight compounds. However, commercial microneedles are subject to several drawbacks i.e. can only be applied on certain skin areas (flat & large surface), require two-step application and prone to infection due to needle reuse.

NUSMETICS which is an NUS GRIP company supported by AM.NUS and NAMIC, has developed a 3D printed microneedle granule delivery platform which is safe and easy to use on all skin surfaces and able to formulate together with cosmetic and therapeutics for one-step application.The developed microneedle granules are biodegradable, biocompatible and environmentally safe.Microneedle granule shows greatly enhanced penetration rate, more than 10 times higher compared with using conventional microneedle patch.

Started initially as an NUS GRIP project, it has led to the filing of one patent application: “Development of bio-inspired micro needle granules and the application in drug delivery”and also the start of a spin-off company (NUSMETICS). The project team has secured the NUS GRIP award and is currently raising funds to scale up their 3D printing manufacturing facilities.

Published on NAMIC Project Highlights: https://namic.sg/project-highlights/raw-material-and-process-control-for-3d-printed-drug-delivery-system-micro-needle-granules/