Microneedle, mould for producing same, and production method for same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microneedle, to a mould for producing same, and to a production method for same. More specifically, the present invention concerns a microneedle for causing a skin-beautifying substance or drug to be absorbed via the skin, to a plastic mould for producing same, and to a production method for same.

Claims

1. A micro-needle composition for percutaneous delivery of a dermal cosmetic material or drug, the composition comprising: a plurality of micro-needles; and a non-aqueous media comprising the dermal cosmetic material or drug, wherein the plurality of microneedles comprises a tetrahedral or pyramidal body with four or five pointed vertices that are not fixed to a flat base or substrate, wherein the plurality of micro-needles are water-dissolvable and mixed with the non-aqueous media such that the tetrahedral or pyramidal body is randomly oriented in the composition, wherein, when pressed against skin, any of the four or five pointed vertices of the randomly oriented the tetrahedral or pyramidal body is configured to pierce stratum corneum of the skin for facilitating the dermal cosmetic material or drug to diffuse into dermis underneath the stratum corneum.

2. The micro-needle composition of claim 1, wherein the tetrahedral or pyramidal body is made of a water-dissolvable, biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide, a polyvinyl alcohol, a carboxyvinyl polymer, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, a cellulose polymer, and NaCl salt.

3. The micro-needle composition of claim 1, wherein the tetrahedral or pyramidal body has a length of 50 m to 500 m.

4. The micro-needle composition of claim 1, wherein the tetrahedral or pyramidal body is soluble in body fluid.

5. The micro-needle composition of claim 1, wherein the dermal cosmetic material is selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, a growth factor, an anti-wrinkle agent, a cell culture, and a culture medium.

6. The micro-needle composition of claim 5, wherein the antioxidant is vitamin C.

7. The micro-needle composition of claim 5, wherein the growth factor is selected from the group consisting of epithelial growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF).

8. The micro-needle composition of claim 5, wherein the cell culture is a stem cell culture, and wherein the culture medium is a stem cell culture medium.

9. The micro-needle composition of claim 7, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of a vaccine, insulin, and a growth hormone.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical micro-needle according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the application of micro-needles to the body in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the application of micro-needles to the body in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the application of micro-needles to the body in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a procedure of manufacturing micro-needles according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is an image of micro-needles (side length=380 m, height=300 m) manufactured in the Example of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an image of micro-needles (side length=700 m, height=500 m) manufactured in the Example of the present invention.

BEST MODE

(8) Hereinbelow, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, it is to be noted that, when the functions of conventional elements and the detailed description of elements related with the present invention may make the gist of the present invention unclear, a detailed description of those elements will be omitted.

(9) A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained through the following examples that are set forth to illustrate, but are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

EXAMPLE

Manufacture of Micro-Structure

(10) A silicon wafer was exposed under a patterned mask and subjected to a bulk-etching process to give a relief-engraved silicon mould. This silicon mould was plated with nickel. By a hot press, polypropylene was melted at 220 C. and pressed at a pressure of 17 kgf/cm.sup.2 against the silicon mould to manufacture a plastic mould with dimensions of 9 cm9 cm, in which about 23,400 pyramids were formed in an intaglio pattern, each having dimensions of 380 m500 m and 700 m700 m. A solution containing 2 g of hyaluronic acid, 4 g of water, and 200 g of ? was loaded to depressed portions of the plastic moulds, and dried at room temperature, followed by separating the molded pyramidal micro-needles from the mould. The pyramidal micro-structures are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.