Iontophoretic microneedle device

A method for the preparation of a polymeric microneedle array for delivery of macromolecular compounds through the skin having a plurality of micro-scaled solid dissolvable microneedles, each of the microneedles being entirely made of a dried polymer composition which is dissolvable upon contact with the skin, the polymer composition comprising:

• 15 to 40 wt. % of a water soluble polymer as a binder,
• less than 2 wt. % of a humectant/softener, and
• less than 2 wt. % of a surfactant;
• and
• 1 to 15 wt. % of the macromolecular compound encapsulated in the polymer, wherein the wt. % are given with respect to the liquid polymer composition before drying, said method comprising the steps of:
• dissolving
• 15 to 40 wt. % of a water soluble polymer as a binder,
• less than 2 wt. % of a humectant/softener, and
• less than 2 wt. % of a surfactant, and
• 1 to 15 wt. % of a macromolecular compound
• in water, to prepare a liquid polymer composition;
• wherein the wt. % are given with respect to the liquid polymer composition before drying;
• molding the liquid polymer composition in flexible molds having the negative form of the microarray to be produced;
• drying the polymer composition within the mold;
• and
• removing the dried polymeric having formed solid dissolvable microneedles from the mold;
• wherein the humectant and softener is present in the liquid polymer composition before drying in an amount of 0.5 to 1.5 wt. %.