近几年来, 由于可溶性微针更优秀的生物相容性和快速的溶解性, 这种给药方式成为了一种更高效, 对生物体伤害较小的给药技术。然而, 直接的在体监测微针的释药过程仍然比较困难。所以, 在这里提出用光学相干层析成像(OCT)的方法来实时监测可溶性微针的在体溶解过程并由此评估药物的释放; 以聚乙烯醇(PVA)和聚乙烯醇/聚乙烯吡咯烷酮混合物(PVA/PVP)为基质, 制作了两种不同的可溶性微针, 并通过计算微针作用于鼠耳后微通道横截面面积随时间的变化来比较两种微针的溶解性能。结果表明, 可以通过OCT技术实时地监测微针的在体溶解过程并进行数量上的评估。并且, OCT图像也可以评估和比较不同材料的可溶性微针的性能。因此, OCT在实时监测可溶性微针在体给药过程方面有很大的潜力。

Soluble microneedles (MNs) has recently become an efficient and minimally invasive tool in transdermal drug delivery because of their excellent biocompatibility and rapid dissolution. However, direct monitoring of the release of drug in vivo is a difficult task. The dissolution of MNs was monitored to estimate the delivery of drug by using optical coherence tomography (OCT); The performances of two soluble MN arrays made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) were determined by calculating the cross-sectional areas of the microchannels in mouse skin as a function of time. Results showed that the dissolution of these MNs could be observed in vivo via OCT in real time and could be quantitatively evaluated using OCT. The OCT images are useful in estimation and comparison of the performance of different MNs. Therefore, OCT is a potential tool in monitoring drug delivery by MNs in vivo.