Solid microneedles are micron-scale needle structures made from biocompatible solid materials such as metals, silicon, polymers, or ceramics. Unlike dissolving microneedles, which break down in the skin, or hollow microneedles, which function as microinjection systems, solid microneedles primarily serve as skin pretreatment tools. They puncture the skin in a minimally invasive way to create microchannels, which allow subsequent drug formulations (gels, patches, creams) to penetrate the skin barrier more efficiently. Solid microneedles are valued for their mechanical strength, reusability in certain contexts, and their broad material compatibility, making them ideal for applications ranging from cosmetic treatments to large-molecule biologics.
Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of solid microneedles.
At our company, we have developed several cutting-edge microneedle technology platforms. One of our most promising innovations is the solid microneedle technology platform, designed to provide a robust, flexible, and scalable approach to drug and vaccine delivery.
Features of Our Solid Microneedle Technology Platform
Advanced Manufacturing Techniques
Our platform can utilize advanced manufacturing techniques to produce solid microneedles with controlled geometry, sharpness, and uniformity. Typical techniques include microfabrication and micromolding techniques, microinjection molding technique, and photolithographic technique. Needle dimensions, typically ranging from 200 to 900 micrometers, are optimized based on the intended therapeutic application.
Support Diverse Materials
The platform supports a wide range of microneedle materials to accommodate different therapeutic and regulatory needs, including medical-grade stainless steel, biocompatible polymers (e.g., polycarbonate, PMMA), silicon and ceramics.
Scalable Manufacturing
Our platform is built with scalability in mind. Using microinjection molding and photolithographic techniques, we can produce large volumes of microneedles while maintaining stringent quality standards. This makes our technology highly suitable for both clinical and commercial scale production, with flexibility to accommodate custom designs for different therapies or patient populations.
Various Applications
Our platform is positioned to support a wide range of clinical and consumer health applications:
- Enhanced Transdermal Drug Delivery: Our solid microneedle technology can create transient micropores in the skin, which can increase transdermal flux for a wide range of drug molecules, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- Vaccination: Our solid microneedle platform allows for intradermal vaccine administration without needles or syringes, improving patient compliance and reducing biohazardous waste. It is compatible with a variety of formulations, including protein-based subunit vaccines, mRNA-loaded hydrogels, adjuvanted nanoparticle suspensions, etc.
- Dermatological Use: Solid microneedles are increasingly used for transdermal delivery of anti-aging agents, skin brighteners, and acne treatments. Our technology allows for safe, effective, and pain-free application of these agents, and has been integrated into home-use microneedle rollers and clinical-grade dermal patches.
Services at Our Platform
To support our partners across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and cosmetic industries, we offer end-to-end services built around our solid microneedle technology platform, including microneedle design, prototyping and characterization. Notably, we provide fully customized microneedle arrays tailored to your formulation, therapeutic indication, and administration route. Our engineering team works closely with clients to develop tailored microneedle solutions for specific applications. Customization options include:
- Needle array size and shape
- Application method (manual, automated, roller-based)
- Substrate material
- Integration with drug reservoir systems
Our R&D and engineering teams work closely with partners throughout the design, prototyping, preclinical testing, and regulatory submission stages.
Moreover, we assist with pilot-scale manufacturing for clinical and early commercial needs, as well as technology transfer support for clients establishing their own manufacturing lines, including SOPs, process validation, and quality control systems.
By leveraging robust materials, precision engineering, and application-specific customization, our platform is positioned to support a wide range of clinical and consumer health applications. If you are interested in our platform or have any questions or needs, please feel free to contact us.
Related Services
It should be noted that our service is only used for research, not for clinical use.
