Patch-contraceptive
A female contraceptive drug has been created, which is administered using subcutaneous microneedles
Evgenia Beresneva, "The Attic"
A research team from Georgia Tech University (USA) has proposed a new method of long-acting female contraception. The active substance is contained in microneedles placed on the patch. It is only necessary to press the plate tightly against the skin for a few seconds, as the needles break off and remain under the upper layer of the epidermis. The substance from the needles is released gradually, the contraceptive effect lasts up to a month.
Figure from the Georgia Institute of Technology press release Long-Acting Contraceptive Designed to be Self-Administered Via Microneedle Patch – VM.
The main engineering task was to create a technology that would allow tiny needles with an active substance to easily break off from the patch and remain under the skin. Each needle has a tiny bubble of air at the base, which makes it less durable in this place – when entering the skin, the needles easily break off and the patch can be removed without any problems. The technology is simpler and more reliable than constantly wearing a patch that releases a substance. Its description is published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering (Li et al., Rapidly separable microneedle patch for the sustained release of a contraceptive).
The microneedles themselves are made of biodegradable polymers based on lactic and glycolic acids. The "filling" of needles is the synthetic progesterone levonorgestrel, widely used in contraceptive drugs.
The main advantage of the method is that it allows a woman to regulate the use of contraceptives herself. Usually, long-acting contraceptives require either injection or implantation of a container with the active substance, that is, you can not do without medical participation here. In this case, the method can be used independently, which is especially important for developing countries whose citizens are faced with the fact that medical services are difficult to access.
So far, scientists have tested the technology on mice. Experimental patches designed to deliver enough hormone to humans have already been developed, but have not yet been tested. According to scientists, it may be possible to extend their validity period up to six months.
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