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Pharmaceutical companies are currently placing significant emphasis on improving drug delivery methods. One innovative approach involves transdermal drug delivery, where a patch is applied to the skin to administer medication. Given that an adult's skin covers an area of 1.5 to 2 m2, it is the body's largest organ by mass. The first transdermal patch approved by the FDA for motion sickness was scopolamine in 1979, followed by nitroglycerine in 1981. These patches penetrate the skin, entering the bloodstream to deliver prescribed dosages. Currently, transdermal patches are used for various purposes, including delivering fentanyl for chronic pain, addressing motion sickness, treating cardiovascular issues, and aiding smoking cessation with nicotine patches. While conventional transdermal patches serve the dual purposes of medication release and storage, they face challenges such as limited release and dosage constraints. The field of transdermal drug delivery has evolved, incorporating technologies like smart patches with built-in sensors to monitor patient conditions and adjust drug delivery accordingly. In 2014, a team of scientists developed a smart patch sensor platform using microneedles for continuous and painless intradermal glucose monitoring in diabetics. Advancements also include personalized transdermal patches tailored to individual patient needs using 3D printing technology. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of 3D-printed patches to aid in wound healing.
- et al. (Wed,) studied this question.