Satoshi Takei

Microneedles are of great interest in diverse fields, including cosmetics, drug delivery systems, chromatography, and biological sensing for disease diagnosis. Self-dissolving ultrafine microneedles of pure sodium hyaluronate hydrogels were fabricated using a UV-curing TiO2-SiO2 gas-permeable mold polymerized by sol-gel hydrolysis reactions in nanoimprint lithography processes under refrigeration at 5 °C, where thermal decomposition of microneedle components can be avoided. The moldability, strength, and dissolution behavior of sodium hyaluronate hydrogels with different molecular weights were compared to evaluate the suitability of ultrafine microneedles with a bottom diameter of 40 μm and a height of 80 μm. The appropriate molecular weight range and formulation of pure sodium hyaluronate hydrogels were found to control the dissolution behavior of self-dissolving ultrafine microneedles while maintaining the moldability and strength of the microneedles. This fabrication technology of ultrafine microneedles expands their possibilities as a next-generation technique for bioactive gels for controlling the blood levels of drugs and avoiding pain during administration.