HOLLOW MICRONEEDLE FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF ACTIVE MOLECULES AND/OR FOR THE SAMPLING OF BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SUCH HOLLOW MICRONEEDLE

摘要

The present invention relates to a micro-needle (7; 8; 9) for the transdermal administration of active molecules and/or for the sampling of biological fluids. The micro-needle (7; 8; 9) is made of polymeric material through photolithography. A cavity is defined in the micro-needle (7; 8; 9). The present invention further relates to a method for obtaining through photolithography at least one micro-needle (7; 8; 9) for the transdermal administration of active molecules and/or for the sampling of biological fluids. A photo-cross linking polymer is exposed in liquid phase to an energy radiation causing the hardening thereof. A photolithographic mask (1; 2) is interposed between the source of the energy radiation and the photo- cross linking polymer. The photolithographic mask (1; 2) is configured in a manner such to generate in the photo-cross linking polymer a peripheral shadow area, a central shadow area and a lighting area confined between the peripheral shadow area and the central shadow area. The method according to this invention is aimed at obtaining a micro-needle (7; 8; 9) for the transdermal administration of active molecules and/or for the sampling of biological fluids which shows the peculiar characteristic of being hollow and which is manufactured by means of a single photolithography operation, thus avoiding the use of additional processing.