Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS)

Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS)

A drug delivery system is a technology for controlling the release of or delivering the substances having pharmacological properties to a desired location such as cells, tissues, or organs in an efficient way using various physiochemical technology. Depending on the route of administration, it is classified into oral, dermal, injection, or inhaled type.
The TDDS (transdermal drug delivery system) has been recently gaining attention to which ointments, patches or injections, and microneedles. Microneedles which are needles of a micrometer size have overcome the disadvantages of typical oral administration or injection which induce vomiting, nausea, pain, and even fear. The greatest advantages of microneedles are that self-administration without assistance from medical professionals. It is possible due to a low level of pain and that there is a lower risk of infection as microneedles are not reused.

Small Lab Co., Ltd. has developed dissolving microneedles utilizing biocompatible large molecules for manufacturing products containing physiologically active substances for skin care. Research on different types of microneedles carrying biological treatment drug is currently in progress.

Horny layer, which is the outermost layer of skin, acts as a protective barrier against foreign substances or external stimuli, thus preventing substances to penetrate through deeper layers of the skin when drugs are applied or patches containing certain drugs are attached.

Microneedles on the other hand form micro-size channels on the skin surface through which physiologically active substances are delivered quickly into deeper layers.
Also, the microneedles penetrate through the horny layer to deliver low molecular weight substances as well as high molecular weight substances that are difficult to deliver using existing transdermal drug delivery method without causing much pain.