BME PhD Preliminary Exam Announcement for Jinheon Jeong (C. Lee, advisor)

Everyone is invited to attend the public presentation beginning at 11:00 AM.

Research Title: Biodegradable Hollow Microneedle Patch for Dual-Phase and Eye Drop–Assisted Ocular Drug Delivery

Date: April 30, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM

Location: MJIS 2001

Committee Members:
 • Dr. Chi Hwan Lee (Advisor)
 • Dr. Young L. Kim
 • Dr. Sunghee E. Park
 • Dr. Yannis M. Paulus

Abstract:

Conventional ocular drug delivery methods, such as eye drops, suffer from poor bioavailability due to rapid clearance and limited penetration through ocular barriers. While intravitreal injections provide direct access to the posterior eye, they are invasive and require frequent administration. To address these challenges, we propose a biodegradable hollow microneedle (HMN) patch designed to enable both burst and sustained drug delivery to the sclera with the added capability of eye drop–assisted post-insertion dosing. The HMN consists of a PLGA shell for long-term structural support and sustained release, and a PVA-filled central channel for immediate release. Upon insertion into the eye using a dissolvable PVA back plate, the PVA core rapidly dissolves to allow an initial therapeutic burst. The remaining hollow channel facilitates repeated administration of liquid drugs through eye drops. Hydrophilic surface treatment using Pluronic^® F-127 ensures efficient aqueous flow and reduces biofouling risk. Through a combination of in vitro, ex vivo, and computational studies, this project aims to demonstrate the mechanical reliability, dual-phase delivery performance, and clinical potential of the HMN platform. This novel system offers a minimally invasive, tunable alternative to current ocular drug delivery strategies.