A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine

Abstract Epinephrine is important for first aid and usually applied via injection, which is painful and problematic in operation, thereby making it difficult to self-delivery. In this study, a method to actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine is proposed based on incorporating microneedles with...

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Main Authors: Chenxi Jin, Peng Guo, Wenjun Li, Wangwang Zhu, Chengcheng Li, Jing Ma, Jun Li, Dachao Li, Jing He, Zhihua Pu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-05-01
Series:Microsystems & Nanoengineering
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-025-00941-3
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author Chenxi Jin
Peng Guo
Wenjun Li
Wangwang Zhu
Chengcheng Li
Jing Ma
Jun Li
Dachao Li
Jing He
Zhihua Pu
author_facet Chenxi Jin
Peng Guo
Wenjun Li
Wangwang Zhu
Chengcheng Li
Jing Ma
Jun Li
Dachao Li
Jing He
Zhihua Pu
author_sort Chenxi Jin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Epinephrine is important for first aid and usually applied via injection, which is painful and problematic in operation, thereby making it difficult to self-delivery. In this study, a method to actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine is proposed based on incorporating microneedles with iontophoresis, and then a wearable device is fabricated for rapid and controllable self-delivery of epinephrine. The device consists of a hydrogel microneedle array, a conductive drug delivery hydrogel, iontophoresis electrodes, and an encapsulated cartridge with a spring and self-locking micro-mechanism. The microneedles create subcutaneous microchannels, allowing the epinephrine contained in the hydrogel to enter the body under the control of iontophoretic currents. The dosage and rate can be adjusted at different levels by pressing the button so that it can be used by different groups of people for rapid self-aid and recovery from fatigue. The device can be worn in advance if required. In-vitro tests showed that the transdermal delivery rate of the device was between 0.02642 and 0.1059 mg/h cm². As a proof-of-concept application, in-vivo experiments showed that the device could reverse life-threatening shock reactions in a piglet model of hemorrhagic shock through the delivery of epinephrine.
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spelling doaj-art-4e094abae8c1467781f041b7b82cb52a2025-08-20T02:25:13ZengNature Publishing GroupMicrosystems & Nanoengineering2055-74342025-05-0111111210.1038/s41378-025-00941-3A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrineChenxi Jin0Peng Guo1Wenjun Li2Wangwang Zhu3Chengcheng Li4Jing Ma5Jun Li6Dachao Li7Jing He8Zhihua Pu9State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityThe Second Medical Center of Chinese PLA General HospitalLang Zhong People’s HospitalState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityThe Second Medical Center of Chinese PLA General HospitalState Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin UniversityAbstract Epinephrine is important for first aid and usually applied via injection, which is painful and problematic in operation, thereby making it difficult to self-delivery. In this study, a method to actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine is proposed based on incorporating microneedles with iontophoresis, and then a wearable device is fabricated for rapid and controllable self-delivery of epinephrine. The device consists of a hydrogel microneedle array, a conductive drug delivery hydrogel, iontophoresis electrodes, and an encapsulated cartridge with a spring and self-locking micro-mechanism. The microneedles create subcutaneous microchannels, allowing the epinephrine contained in the hydrogel to enter the body under the control of iontophoretic currents. The dosage and rate can be adjusted at different levels by pressing the button so that it can be used by different groups of people for rapid self-aid and recovery from fatigue. The device can be worn in advance if required. In-vitro tests showed that the transdermal delivery rate of the device was between 0.02642 and 0.1059 mg/h cm². As a proof-of-concept application, in-vivo experiments showed that the device could reverse life-threatening shock reactions in a piglet model of hemorrhagic shock through the delivery of epinephrine.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-025-00941-3
spellingShingle Chenxi Jin
Peng Guo
Wenjun Li
Wangwang Zhu
Chengcheng Li
Jing Ma
Jun Li
Dachao Li
Jing He
Zhihua Pu
A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
Microsystems & Nanoengineering
title A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
title_full A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
title_fullStr A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
title_full_unstemmed A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
title_short A wearable self-aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
title_sort wearable self aid microneedle chip based on actively transdermal delivery of epinephrine
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-025-00941-3
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