Problem Statement

Patients post-operation want non-addictive, uncomplicated pain management. Oral treatment must be processed by the digestive system before entering the bloodstream, whereas a transdermal delivery system is immediately released into the bloodstream and provides consistent dosage over a period of time. Using this technology will allow treatment to target only the impacted area and does not allow for patient misuse of pain relief medication. We aim to develop a biocompatible polymer converted into a hydrogel and processed into a lightweight material. This scaffold will release its payload of active pharmaceutical ingredients over time.

Our Goals

Our goal is to develop and design a biodegradable scaffold that is able to transdermally deliver powerful pain medication over a clinically relevant timeframe and then degrade into harmless byproducts, eliminating the need for systems opioids and their associated risks. 

Objectives

Design Optimization

​- Examine current methods of scaffolding for transdermal drug delivery 
​- Evaluate biodegradable materials suitable for slow-release drugs 

Mechanism Development

Fabricate a hydrogel with a stable, porous structure to serve as a reservoir for a model drug

Prototyping

Create a prototype with a slow-release mechanism over a clinically relevant time frame