Program Structure

Module 1: Why “Through-the-Skin” Delivery is a Game Changer

• Challenges with oral and injectable delivery: degradation, pain, compliance, dosing variability.
• Transdermal route basics: what the skin blocks and what can pass.
• Microneedles concept: delivering across the stratum corneum with minimal discomfort.
• Real-world use-cases: vaccines, insulin alternatives, local anesthetics, dermatology, biologics (concept-level).

Module 2: Microneedle Platforms (Types and Selection)

• Solid microneedles (poke-and-patch): when they’re useful.
• Coated microneedles: fast release and surface-loading logic.
• Dissolving microneedles: polymer matrices and dose constraints.
• Hollow microneedles: microinjection basics and device complexity.
• Hydrogel-forming microneedles: swelling-based transport and sustained delivery.

Module 3: Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Systems (Human-Friendly Overview)

• CNT types: single-walled vs multi-walled (what changes in behavior).
• Key properties: high strength, high surface area, electrical conductivity.
• Functionalization basics: why surface chemistry matters in biology.
• Where CNTs are helpful in drug delivery: loading, release control, sensing, and actuation (concept-level).

Module 4: CNT + Microneedles (How They Work Better Together)

• Mechanical reinforcement: improving needle strength and penetration reliability.
• Drug loading enhancements: CNT surface area as a “nano-reservoir.”
• Conductive microneedles: enabling electro-triggered release or sensing.
• Hybrid systems: CNTs in polymers, coatings, or layered microneedle stacks.
• Design trade-offs: strength vs flexibility, loading vs safety, speed vs sustained release.

Module 5: Fabrication Strategies and Materials Selection

• Common microneedle fabrication methods (high-level): micromolding, lithography-inspired molds, 3D printing concepts.
• Embedding CNTs in polymers: dispersion challenges and why aggregation matters.
• Coating approaches: attaching CNT-drug composites on microneedle surfaces.
• Sterilization and stability: preserving function without damaging materials.
• Quality parameters: tip sharpness, uniformity, mechanical testing and reproducibility.

Module 6: Controlled Release and Stimuli-Responsive Delivery

• Release basics: diffusion, polymer degradation, swelling-controlled delivery.
• Stimuli triggers (concept-level): pH-responsive, thermal, light, magnetic, electrical.
• Using CNT conductivity for “on-demand” release approaches (high-level concepts).
• Designing dosing profiles: burst + maintenance, sustained delivery, pulsatile strategies.

Module 7: Testing and Performance Evaluation

• Mechanical tests: insertion force, fracture resistance, bend and compression tests.
• Skin models and penetration analysis: dye tests, microscopy observations (conceptual).
• Drug release testing: in vitro release profiles and stability checks.
• Bioactivity confirmation: ensuring the drug remains active after fabrication.
• Basic usability thinking: patch design, comfort, adhesion, and patient compliance.

Module 8: Safety, Biocompatibility, and Regulatory Mindset

• CNT safety considerations: dose, form, surface chemistry, and exposure pathways (high-level).
• Biocompatibility evaluation thinking: cytotoxicity and irritation endpoints (conceptual overview).
• Risk assessment: migration, degradation products, and long-term exposure concerns.
• Regulatory perspective: documentation, quality systems, and product classification mindset (device vs combo product varies).
• Ethics and responsible innovation: transparency and safety-first design culture.

Module 9: Applications and Future Directions

• Vaccine and immunotherapy delivery concepts: fast, stable, and low-waste options.
• Diabetes and metabolic disease delivery ideas: controlled dosing and remote monitoring (concept-level).
• Dermatology and wound healing: localized delivery with smart sensing possibilities.
• “Theranostic” microneedles: delivery + sensing in one platform (high-level future view).
• Scaling challenges: cost, reproducibility, storage, and mass manufacturing readiness.

Final Project

• Create a CNT–Microneedle Drug Delivery Product Concept.
• Include: target indication, microneedle type selection, CNT integration method, release strategy, safety checklist, and testing plan.
• Example themes: “smart microneedle patch for controlled anti-inflammatory delivery,” “vaccine microneedle patch with stability focus,” or “electro-responsive pain management patch concept.”