The Challenge
Traditional hypodermic needles can be frightening and painful for children and adults alike. With the need to monitor blood glucose levels of patients with diabetes, patient compliance and therefore outcomes, could suffer.
Micro-needles have been developed across the world however problems such as the available space for volume of drug as well as getting a sharp enough end to penetrate the skin have arisen.
The method
Professor Owen Guy and a team of researchers, working with SPTS technologies in Newport, and Cardiff University, are developing small microneedles from silicone.
Silicone is typically used in the semi-conductor industry. Equipment etches into silicone wafers in order to reveal the shaft and bevelled tip.
Just 1mm in height with a diameter of .2mm these microneedles have a very sharp bevelled tip and a hollow bore which allow for a larger volume of drug to be administered with very little to no pain.
The project has benefitted from funding from ESPRC and Innovate UK, in collaboration with industry.