NEEDLE FREE INJECTION

By Kaushik BandopadhyayNSEC, BME

CLASSIFICATION

Needle free Injections can be classified into two types based on their mechanism of drug delivery:

1) Nano-Patch

2) Jet Pressure Needle free Injection

NANO-PATCH

The most modern form of drug delivery through needle free system.

As the name suggests, this is a small sized device having the size of a stamp which has about 20,000 micro-projections per square cm on its surface.

Application Methods

Drug delivery through Nano-Patch is done in two ways:

1) Sand paper aided delivery

2) Iontophoresis enabled delivery

Sand paper aided delivery

Mechanism of Operation

The micro-projections containing drug/vaccine delivers the drug/vaccine into the epidermis.

The epidermis is rich of Langerhans cells which are members of our Immune system

These cells move to the nearest Lymph node and display the antigen to the T-cells

T-cells specifically recognizes one type of antigen and creates a corresponding antibody.

Once this recognition procedure is completed the antibodies will provide immediate protection and these cells will protect from getting the same disease twice. Thereby providing life term of protection.

Jet Pressured Needle free Injection

Devised in the year 2001 by The Medical House and Bioject. This device has a specialized nozzle through which the drug is delivered.

A three component system comprising an injection device, specially desgned nozzle and air cartridge is present.

Mechanism of Operation

Instead of creating a puncture on the skin surface, this device forces the drug through skin pores by the help of air pressure, thereby effectively delivering the drug without the help of needle.

Advantages of using this technology Painless procedure Relief to patients who have to be inoculated

many times in a day Efficient use of Vaccine Pandemic effective Zero contamination Better drug diffusion Zero disposal Hazard Ideal for developing countries

Popular Brands present Internationally Biojectorr 2000 Vitajet 3 Cool click Serojet Iject Biovalve’s Miniject

Limitation of this technology

High pressure enabled delivery of drugs by the Jet Pressured Needle free Injection can damage fragile molecules beneath our skin surface, especially the Monoclonal antibodies.

Conclusion

Is the future Needle-free? Developed countries have a Yes for this

question while from developing countries the answer is not clear. Although this technology is designed for such nations, until a big pharmaceutical or biotechnology company adopts it here, it will continue to remain as a dream.

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