Diabetes mellitus requires precise insulin administration to avoid harmful fluctuations in blood glucose levels. This project presents a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogel microneedle patch crosslinked with boric acid (BA) and citric acid (CA), with chitosan (CS) enhancements. The dual-crosslinked system responds dynamically to elevated glucose levels by swelling and releasing insulin. The microneedle design enables minimally invasive transdermal delivery, bypassing gastrointestinal degradation and enhancing patient comfort.
– Designed and optimized PVA-based hydrogel with reversible BA and permanent CA crosslinks
– Achieved enhanced glucose responsiveness with chitosan addition (up to 226% sensitivity)
– Successfully fabricated microneedle array for transdermal insulin delivery
– Demonstrated 2.75‑fold increased insulin release under hyperglycemic (400 mg/dL) conditions
– Validated skin penetration depth of ~465 µm through ex‑vivo rat skin tests
– Established strong potential for closed‑loop patient‑friendly insulin delivery in diabetes care
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