Problem

Diabetes remains a leading health challenge in the US, with over 38.4 million people affected by type II diabetes and 97.6 million with prediabetes. Patients often rely on pumps and pens that can cause discomfort during routine use, potentially reducing adherence and quality of life. Postprandial hyperglycemia is a persistent issue, driven by variability in insulin absorption and local tissue conditions, highlighting the need for faster, more comfortable delivery methods.

In search of a solution that balances rapid action with patient comfort, we recognized that ambient skin temperature and tissue perfusion significantly influence insulin diffusion. Traditional approaches did not adequately address temperature control at the delivery site. By focusing on a localized heating strategy coupled with a painless transdermal microneedle patch, we aimed to stabilize insulin absorption and improve consistency of postprandial control, while maintaining user comfort.

Solution

We modeled a transdermal microneedle patch with a 4x4 array, designed to penetrate the dermis while delivering a constant insulin concentration through each needle. Localized heating was incorporated to induce vasodilation and increase diffusion, with diffusion coefficients adjusted according to temperature via the Stokes-Einstein framework. Our approach builds on prior work in thermal-assisted drug delivery, adapting it to rapid-acting insulin and patient comfort goals.

We implemented a 3D COMSOL model of the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis to assess how temperature and porosity affect insulin diffusion from microneedles. The model explored temperature ranges relevant to safe skin heating and evaluated how heating influences diffusion pathways, porosity, and tissue response to optimize delivery speed without compromising safety.

Research Poster

Final Manuscript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yVfC-NO1xYcMrgFrKpGJxKVE6T11WqWvG1zOJa7XvfU/edit?usp=sharing

Temp-Enhanced Transdermal Insulin Patch