• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2011

The penetration of outside material into skin is not easy. It is since the skin, which is a very hard barrier, protects the body against outside chemical and physical stimulation. Microneedle system which can help improve drug penetration into skin is advancing variously in transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) in the field of skin care. After inserting microneedle into skin by using electrical or artificial forces, it makes microhole and drug penetration easily and induces natural skin rejuvenation. Diffusion and penetration of drug by optical and electrical force of microneedle is better for fast and effective TDDS. This is more developed than the traditional method such as the manual stamp, roller, and meso gun. The drug absorbed into dermal layer by microneedle helps revive and repair damaged skin. In the future, utilization of microneedle for skin care will progress constantly because of its human-friendly biodegradable materials and the development of the no pain microneedle.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1871-1876
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• 2004

We demonstrate a novel fabrication technology for the microneedle array that can be used in the medical test field, which is transdermal drug delivery and blood analyte sampling. Previous researchers have used silicon-processed micromachining, a reactive ion etching, and molding techniques for the fabrication of microneedle array. However, these fabrication techniques have somewhat limitations apply to the microneedle array fabrication according to its application. Inclined LIGA process is suggested to overcome these problems. This process provides easier, sharper and longer out-of-plane microneedle array structure than conventional silicon-processed fabrication method did. Additionally, because of the advantage of the LIGA process based on mold fabrication for mass production, the polymer, PMMA(PolyMethylMethAcrylate), based microneedle array is useful as the mold base of nickel electroplating process; on the other hand, silicon-processed microneedle array is used in itself. In this research, we fabricate different types of out-of-plane microneedle array, which have different shape of tip, base and hole structure, using the inclined LIGA process. The fabricated microneedles have proper mechanical strength, height and sharpness to puncture human hand epidermis or dermis with less pain and without needle tip break during penetrating the skin.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.182-190
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the microneedle therapy system (MTS) and its research methods for the past 10 years in Korea. Methods: Data on microneedle therapy system were collected using NDSL, KISS, RISS, and OASIS electronic databases from January 2010 to August 2021. "microneedle," "derma stamp," "microneedle therapy system" were used as the keywords. The present study, however, excluded data that were 1) unrelated to the microneedle therapy system, 2) from review/meta/protocol studies, and 3) from overseas studies. Data selected through the primary screening process, animal studies, case reports, and clinical data were included in the analysis. However, information data not related to the microneedle therapy system were excluded from the study. Results: Among the MTS-related papers published from January 2010 to August 2021, 7 animal research, 2 clinical trials, and 10 case studies were published. Based on the research topics, there were 8 papers on skin improvement and skin diseases, 7 papers on hair growth and hair loss, 3 papers on stability, and 1 paper on peripheral facial paralysis. Conclusion: Most of the studies related to MTS focused on skin, hair, and stability. The effect of MTS on hair growth and skin improvement has been confirmed, and it has been proven to have significant effects on the treatment of acne, acne scars, and hair loss in clinical practice. No serious side effects were observed during the MTS treatment, and the safety assessment confirmed that it was safe for use.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.721-722
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• 2013

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.178.6-178
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• 2001

Silicon-micromachined microneedle for a biofluid diagnosis system is developed. To fabricate microneedles, two sets of processes are used. One is making buried microchannels in silicon wafer using silicon isotropic etch with a SF6 plasma and then trench-refilling. The other is releasing the body of the microneedle by deep silicon etch. The microneedle has a 4 mm-length and about 12 $\mu\textrm{m}$ diameter buried microchannel, a 1.5 mm$\times$l.5 mm-area reservoir, and about 180 $\mu\textrm{m}$thickness body. Preliminary results indicate that microneedles are capable of flowing fluidic samples. The microneedle with a buried microchannel is expected to be integrated with in vitro diagnosis systems and microfluidic devices.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.127-134
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• 2013

Objective : Acne is very common disease, it can leave permanent scars. However, there are few reports about it in oriental medicine academia. This study performed to evaluate the effect of reconstruction of skin scars and auto microneedle therapy system on acne scars. Methods : Six patients were treated by using reconstruction of skin scars and auto microneedle therapy system. We compared the degree of treatment of acne scars on pre and post case photos and Qualitative Global Acne Scarring Grading System(QGASC). Satisfaction degree were asked from the patients. Results & Conclusion : After comparing case photos and QGASC, observing patients satisfaction, it can be considered that reconstruction of skin scars and auto microneedle therapy system to be valid acne scars treatment.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.403-409
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• 2005

For transdermal delivery of large molecular drugs such as vaccine and protein drugs, novel microneedle treatment device with roll was designed. The roll dimension is 1.43 cm diameter and 2.8 cm perimeter. Total number of microneedle on the roll is 3,360 with $230\;{\mu}m$ height and $740\;{\mu}m$ distance. The pore with $150\;{\mu}m$ depth and $35\;{\mu}m$ diameter on the skin was made by the designed microneedle device. This system could be achieved without pain. The permeation rates of FITC labelled ovalbumin (FITC-OVA, molecular weight: 45,000 g/mol) as a model protein were determined by modified Franz diffusion cells using skins of hairless mice or SD rats which were treated by using microneedle device two or four times. The average penetration fluxes of model protein increased from 674 to $872\;{\mu}g/cm^{2}{\cdot}hr$ as the number of treatment to make pore increased from two to four times. In conclusion, we confirmed the possibility of using the designed microneedle treatment device for transdermal delivery of the large molecular drugs.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.851-856
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• 2016

Despite all the recent advances in biodegradable material-based microneedles, the bending and failure (especially buckling) of a biodegradable microneedle during skin tissue insertion remains a major technical hurdle for its large-scale commercialization. A reduction in skin tissue puncture force during microneedle insertion remains an essential issue in successfully developing a biodegradable microneedle. Here, we consider uniaxial and equibiaxial prestrains applied to a skin tissue as mechanophysical stimuli that can reduce the skin tissue puncture force, and investigate the effect of prestrain on the changes in skin tissue puncture force. For a porcine skin tissue similar to that of humans, the skin tissue puncture force of a flat-end microneedle is measured with a z-axis stage equipped with a load cell, which provides a force-time curve during microneedle insertion. The findings of this study lead to a quantitative characterization of the relationship between prestrain and the skin tissue puncture force.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.241-251
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• 2010

In recent years, the number of people suffering from depression due to hair loss has been increasing. The treatment methods such as clinical pathology and vanity surgery have been developed. There are therapies and materials for hair growth promotion and hair loss prevention. But the effectiveness of such therapies and materials is not fully evaluated and some side-effects have been reported. In this study, microneedle therapy using very thin and delicate needles promotes absorption of drug. During this therapy, the microneedle makes micro holes that help absorbion of drugs into the scalp. In this study, absorbion of fermented soybean were evaluated. The ingredient has antioxidant, antiandrogen, and antithrombosis effect for alopecia. The fermented soybean is more effective for complex hair loss when used with microneedle. It is because of the microneedle's excellent drug delivery system (DDS). This therapy that increases the absorption of fermented soybean is a very useful scalp care method which prevents, treats and controls alopecia. This microneedle therapy using fermented soybean is an advanced technology for scalp care.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2021

A microneedle is a tool that used for drug delivery and diagnosis. Unlike general injections, the microneedle is short in length, enabling effective drug delivery while minimizing pain and risk of infection. Conventionally, microneedles have been manufactured precisely at a nanometer level based on microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, requiring expensive equipments & maintenance and complicated processes. To address the issues, 3D printing research has been conducted to fabricate microneedles simply, economically, and rapidly. Since 3D printing facilitates to manufacture prototypes and apply feedbacks, it is advantageous for the development and commercialization of microneedle for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Therefore, this review will introduce stereolithography (SLA), two-photon polymerization (2PP), dynamic light processing (DLP), continuous liquid interface production (CLIP), and fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technologies and also highlight research trends for microneedle production using them. Furthermore, the limitation of the current microneedle technology and the direction to be solved in the future will be discussed.