Structural and microfluidic analysis of microneedle array for drug delivery

Abstract

This study presented a structural and microfluidic analysis of microneedles array based on out-of-plane for a transdermal drug delivery device. The Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based on thermopneumatic actuators devices were utilized to make the fluid flow through the microneedles. Analysis and simulation of microneedle were performed using ANSYS Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as tool to determine the effect of axial and transverse loads generated during the insertion of the microneedle into the skin. The static analysis with the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) tool was presented to investigate the pressure distribution of fluid through 38 microneedles array. We obtained the maximum length of microneedle that it fulfilled the function of skin penetration, allowing that the fluid reaches the desired destination and avoiding any possible pain during the insertion. Microneedle simulation results were conclusive, indicating that the stresses due to the applied loads were under the yield strength of both Nickel and Silicon Carbide materials.