Paper Publications
Comprehensive modeling of heat and diffusional drug transfer in photothermal-responsive microneedles applied to skin
Release Time:2026-09-18
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Journal:
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
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Key Words:
photothermal-responsive microneedles; Soret effect; thermodiffusion; drug delivery; diffusion coefficient
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Summary:
Photothermal-responsive microneedles (PRMNs) are promising tools for controlled, on-demand transdermal delivery of low-permeability drugs like Methotrexate. While effective, their underlying heat and drug transfer mechanisms, particularly the role of Soret effect-induced thermodiffusion, remain unclear. This study develops a theoretical framework that integrates heat transfer induced by light irradiation with molecular transport governed by both Fick’s diffusion and the Soret effect, while accounting for skin heterogeneity and temperature-dependent diffusion. Using a geometric PRMN-skin model, we numerically investigated the temperature distribution, temporal drug concentration, and cumulative drug amount under various irradiation conditions. Fluorescent experiments with polyvinyl alcohol PRMNs in porcine skin were performed and the temperature evolution and temporal drug release were analyzed. Soret effect was found to act as an active thermodiffusion mechanism augmenting the intrinsically concentration-gradient-driven transport. The current framework lays a foundation for instrumentation of PRMNs and optical components as a whole and their implementation as wearable devices thereafter.
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First Author:
Wenduo Wu
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Correspondence Author:
Ning Qin,Pei Zhao
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All the Authors:
Yingying Yuan,Yinglong Zhang,Chonghui Yang,Xuejiao Qin,Jia Quan,Pegah Pezeshkpour
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Indexed by:
Journal paper
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Document Code:
Published online
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Impact Factor:
7.8
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Translation or Not:
No
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Date of Publication:
2026-09
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Included Journals:
SCI
