Globes [online] is reporting that an Israeli start-up NanoPass Technologies Ltd. has raised $6.5 million in venture capital to further develop its proprietary intradermal drug delivery technology. Company’s microneedles are said to be painless (because they don’t reach the nerve endings), and barely visible to the naked eye.
Company on its technology:
MicroPyramids are manufactured by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology and are made of pure silicone crystals. MEMS technology has enabled the creation of elaborate miniature devices with unprecedented mechanical stability and structural precision.
NanoPass MicroPyramid arrays are manufacture in industrial clean room, in a high-precision production process, with a very high yield.
Based on its MicroPyramid technology, NanoPass currently develops hollow microneedles for intradermal injections and solid microprojections for cosmetic enhancement.
Enlarged up to 750 times its original size by electron microscopy (pictured), MicroPyramid microneedles have a remarkably robust architecture, and are extremely sharp, with a tip diameter of less than 1micrometer (one millionth of a meter!)
Intradermal vaccine delivery has been repeatedly shown to allow significant dose sparing when compared to conventional administration methods such as intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. This effect is attributed to the relatively dense network of immune cells present in the skin.
NanoPass MicroPyramids offer a significant edge over current methods of IDD:
1. Painless Penetration – MicroPyramids are too short to reach the pain sensing nerve endings of the skin, and are thus completely painless upon insertion.
2. Non Intimidating – barely visible to the naked eye, MicroPyramid devices are ideal for children and needle-phobic patients.
3. Minimal Performer Expertise – unlike intradermal delivery with a regular steel needle, NanoPass MicroPyramid devices are very easy to use, and require minimal experience for successful delivery.
4. Potential Reduced Risk for Cross Contamination – being so small, MicroPyramids potentially carry a reduced risk for contamination by used devices, offering a safer alternative for medical personnel.
5. Delivery of Viscous Material – despite their miniature size, the MicroPyramids’ mechanical properties allow easy delivery of incredibly viscous materials, including gelatinous substances.
Company website…
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