Factors Affecting Depth of Penetration in Microneedling- and Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery: The Importance of Timing of Topical Application : Dermatologic Surgery

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Original Article

Factors Affecting Depth of Penetration in Microneedling- and Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery: The Importance of Timing of Topical Application

Chung, Hye Jin MD, MMS*; Cheng, Judy MD, MPH*; Gonzalez, Manuel BS†; Al-Janahi, Sara MD*

Author Information

*Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; and

†Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Hye Jin Chung, MD, MMS, Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, 609 Albany Street, J401, Boston, MA 02118, or e-mail: [email protected]

Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Web site (www.dermatologicsurgery.org).

Supported by Boston University Dermatology Research Scholar Award.

The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

H.J. Chung and J. Cheng contributed to this work equally.

Dermatologic Surgery 46(12):p e146-e153, December 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002381

Abstract

BACKGROUND 

Microneedling- and laser-assisted drug delivery are emerging techniques used to treat various conditions. However, key parameters affecting drug penetration remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE 

This study aims to investigate the importance of timing of topical application, needle length, and device type for drug delivery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Skin harvested from cosmetic surgeries was treated with black ink applied before or after treatment with a microneedling pen (MP), roller, or fractional ablative CO2 laser, and incubated for different time intervals. Ink penetration was additionally tested using different needle lengths. Sandwich estimator was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS 

Ink applied before MP penetrated deeper compared to ink applied afterward at 1 and 3 hours, and roller microneedling in both the ink-before and -after scenarios at 1, 3, and 6 hours (p < .05). Microneedling demonstrated lateral extension of ink beyond microchannels with increased ink penetration over time. CO2 laser demonstrated ink localization within microthermal zones without time-dependent increases in depth after 30 minutes. Ink penetration increases by 0.06 mm per 1 mm increase in needle length.

CONCLUSION 

Ink applied before MP results in the deepest penetration of ink. Microneedling offers unique advantages in transdermal delivery as its channels exhibit increasing penetration over time and lateral extension of product.

© 2020 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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