Published 28 July 2021
Authors: Woo Yeup Jeong, Mina Kwon, Hye Eun Choi & Ki Su Kim
“The development of TDDS technology is widely recognized as the development of a mass delivery methodology, which makes it the preferred drug injection modality for transdermal delivery across skin types, while preventing first-pass metabolism and other sensitivities associated with various alternative drug administration routes. In various devices and TDDSs, drugs can be delivered through the skin to the systemic circulation. Drugs are generally reliably and safely delivered through TDDS and are safe and stable from biochemical modifications until they reach the target tissue. TDDS is noninvasive, nonallergenic, and has a set duration and dose delivery method, which allows for uniform distribution of drugs at prescribed and controlled rates. Many new and old formulations are in the process of improving the bioavailability of low-absorption drugs via easy routes of administration that allow large doses to be administered over a long period of time. Therefore, the TDDS technology is growing rapidly in the pharmaceutical field and has succeeded in capturing key value in the market for biomedical applications as a formulation system that can improve drug delivery through topical routes. However, despite extensive research over the past few decades, passive methods such as chemical enhancers have had limited success in increasing transdermal transport of small molecules and have only had a relatively poor ability to increase transport of macromolecules under potentially clinically acceptable conditions. Active transport methods using external devices have more extensively increased the transdermal delivery efficiency of drugs and macromolecules. However, the ability of these technologies to effectively deliver drugs is partially balanced by their reliance on electronic control devices that require energy sources, which limits their utility and cost. Methods of piercing micron-sized pores into the skin, such as microneedles can significantly increase the transdermal delivery of drugs, macromolecules, or particles, but more studies are needed to achieve more safety/low skin damage and cost-effectiveness.
In recent years, the scale of TDDS in the domestic and overseas drug delivery system market has increased, as confirmed through increasing research studies, patents, and commercially available products from many companies and research institutes. In addition, microneedles are attracting great attention even among TDDS modalities, which complement the limitations of the existing simple application type and patch type needles and combine the advantages of microneedles to obtain higher treatment efficiency and effects. For this, manufacturing and commercialization methods are being developed, with judicious implementation of latest technologies, such as 3D bioprinting. Advances in these TDDSs could provide the driving force for controlling prevalence of diseases of cardiovascular and central nervous systems, diabetes, neuromuscular diseases, genetic diseases, and infectious and localized infectious diseases, while spearheading advances in vaccination and supporting patient preference for self-administration of drugs for long-term treatment” (Jeong et al., 2021).
These advancements within the technological and science world are exciting for those with chronic illness. They provide hope for easier and more effective treatment. This particular advancement of Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems (TDDS) is directly related to the strategic problematic that Battelle has selected for our capstone. Battelle has picked out two areas on concern all centered on the topic of implantable drug delivery systems. There is a two types we can explore, injection site, two piece systems or a diffusion implant that has all the drug dosage already inside the device. The transdermal drug delivery relates to these systems closely. I can look into this type of drug delivery system as a possible avenue for exploration. The article indicates that it has a trend of success and could be helpful for many people that have struggled with other forms of drug delivery systems. The transdermal method can be a good alternative to injections as injection site complications are prevalent. This drug system delivers the medication significantly faster as it goes right into the bloodstream.
Creating new applications for patients who have many concerns regarding medication can cause feelings of concern and fear. many of them, if had problems before, will not be willing to trust a new drug delivery system. It can be a serious matter as well. In the case of epilepsy, switching medications can cause an onset of reoccurring seizure that were once controlled. Patients like those of epilepsy will weary to try new systems for medication.
Reference
Jeong, W. Y., Kwon, M., Choi, H. E., & Kim, K. S. (2021). Recent advances in Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: A Review. Biomaterials Research, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-021-00226-6
