Disclosed herein is a microelectrode platform that may be used for multiple biosystem applications including cell culturing techniques and biosensing. Also disclosed are microfabrication techniques for inexpensively producing microelectrode platforms.

The present invention relates to a drug-coated microneedle and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a drug-coated microneedle that delivers a drug by physically piercing the stratum corneum of the skin and a method of manufacturing the same. The drug-coated microneedle is represented by Chemical Formula 1 below, and is capable of releasing a drug through a redox reaction after penetration into the skin. The drug-coated microneedle according to the present invention is capable of effectively delivering a drug having excellent functionality but low skin permeability, and is thus useful as a material for functional cosmetics for whitening, wrinkle reduction, inflammation reduction and the like. [Chemical Formula 1] MN-S—S-D. In Chemical Formula 1, MN is a silica-(SiO.sub.2)-containing microneedle, S—S is a disulfide bond, and D is a drug.

Disclosed herein is a microelectrode platform that may be used for multiple biosystem applications including cell culturing techniques and biosensing. Also disclosed are microfabrication techniques for inexpensively producing microelectrode platforms.

Provided is a method of producing a microneedle array unit which is capable of suppressing damage to a microneedle array. The method of producing a microneedle array unit, including an array preparing step of preparing a microneedle array which includes a sheet and a plurality of needles arranged on one surface of the sheet; a container preparing step of preparing a container which includes an accommodating portion defining an opening and a space for accommodating the microneedle array, and a deformable portion disposed on a side opposite to the opening and integrated with the accommodating portion; an accommodating step of accommodating the microneedle array in the accommodating portion of the container by allowing the other surface of the sheet of the microneedle array and the deformable portion of the container to oppose each other; and a deforming step of deforming an outer surface of the accommodating portion inward, which is positioned between the one surface of the sheet of the microneedle array and the opening of the accommodating portion, to form a protrusion that reduces an area of the opening.

A method is for manufacturing a plurality of silicon microneedles which have a bevelled tip. The method includes providing a silicon substrate having a front face and a rear face, forming a first mask arrangement on the front face of the substrate, the first mask arrangement defining one or more gaps, and performing a SF.sub.6 based plasma etch of the front face through the gaps in the first mask arrangement to provide one or more etch features having a sloping face. The SF.sub.6 based plasma etch undercuts the first mask arrangement with an undercut that is at least 10% of the depth of a corresponding etch feature. The method further includes forming a second mask arrangement on the etch features to define locations of the microneedles, in which the second mask arrangement is located entirely on sloping faces of the etch features, and performing a DRIE (deep reactive ion etch) anisotropic plasma etch of the etched front face of the substrate to form a plurality of microneedles which have a bevelled tip, where the sloping faces of the etch features at least in part give rise to the bevelled tips of the microneedles.

Methods for mass production of new microfluidic devices are described. The microfluidic devices may include an array of micro-needles with open channels in fluid communication with multiple reservoirs located within a substrate that supports the micro-needles. The micro-needles are configured so as to sufficiently penetrate the skin in order to collect or sample bodily fluids and transfer the fluids to the reservoirs. The micro-needles may also deliver medicaments into or below the skin.

The present invention provides an implantable microneedle and a manufacturing method therefor. An implantable microneedle according to the present invention comprises a coating layer for covering at least one part of the surface of a tip part of the microneedle. When exposed to moisture, the coating layer can be separated from the tip part of the microneedle and thus be implanted.

The invention relates to a microneedle array and to the use thereof for intradermal delivery, comprising a plurality of microneedles on a carrier, wherein this microneedle array is suitable for penetrating the skin of humans or animals and includes at least one color change indicator.

A method of controlling a needle actuator to interact with a cell is provided, the method comprising: providing an actuator comprising a tower, a stage and a needle, wherein the needle is mounted on the stage; applying an electrostatic potential between the tower and the stage to retract the needle; moving the actuator towards the cell; reducing the potential so as to allow the stage and needle to move towards the cell; applying calibration data to detect when the needle has pierced the cell; and reducing the potential further once it has been detected that the needle has pierced the cell. The cell can be a biological cell. The needle can be a micro-needle and the stage can be a micro-stage.

Provided are a transdermal absorption sheet capable of achieving control of the dissolution rate and suppression of diffusion of a drug, and a method of producing the same. A transdermal absorption sheet includes a sheet portion, and a plurality of needle-like protruding portions formed by a plurality of frustum portions arranged on the sheet portion and needle portions arranged on the frustum portions, in which at least one of the needle-like protruding portions has a cavity portion extending from the sheet portion to the frustum portion.