Visualizing Dermal Micropores With OCT | NCT04867733

NCT04867733

Protocol Section

Identification Module

Results Section

Participant Flow Module

Annotation Section

No data available

No data is available for this block.

Document Section

Large Document Module

Derived Section

Miscellaneous Info Module

Status Module

Description Module

Detailed Description

Transdermal drug delivery (by way of patches that adhere to the skin and deliver drug in a time-dependent fashion) allows for systemic drug delivery through the skin, while avoiding many of the side effects and challenges associated with oral or intravenous drug delivery. One significant challenge limiting the number of drug compounds that can be transdermally delivered is the hydrophobic nature of the skin, which provides a highly efficient barrier against the absorption of drug molecules. Micropatches are small patches with tiny projections that are a minimally invasive way to allow drug molecules to cross the skin by creating micron-sized channels (also called micropores) in the skin, thereby increasing its permeability. Micropatches have been safely used in hundreds of patients for administration of drugs and vaccines through the skin. Studies have demonstrated that micropatch treatment is relatively painless and well-tolerated by most patients.

Following micropatch treatment, the skin must heal the micropores. In young healthy individuals this process takes approximately 48 to 72 hours when the skin is covered by an occlusive patch. One of the factors that may also affect micropore healing time is the depth of the micropores in the skin immediately after micropatch treatment. There are almost no data available regarding how race and ethnicity affect the depth of micropores after micropatch application. It is important to study differences in micropore depth so investigators can better understand why rates of micropore closure vary in different racial/ethnic populations. Without this information the potential for variability in drug delivery is high.

In this study the investigators will objectively measure skin color with a colorimeter to characterize the epidermal properties of individuals of different self-identified races and ethnicities. Measurements of trans-epidermal water loss will be used to evaluate formation of micropores in the skin; electrical impedance measurements will be used to estimate rates of micropore closure. The investigators will visualize the micropores created after micropatch treatment with the use of an optical coherence tomography instrument that will allow for calculation of epidermal thickness and micropore depth. All of these skin characteristics can be measured using noninvasive methods that are quick and painless.

Arms/Interventions Module

Arm Groups

Label	Type	Description	Intervention Names
Micropatch application	Experimental	All participants will complete this arm. Three sites each on the upper arm, volar (inner) forearm, and palm will be identified. Baseline measurements of trans-epidermal water loss, electrical resistance, and color will be made at each site. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans will be made at each site. Color will only be measured at baseline. One site at each location will undergo the following interventions: 1) micropatch application and an occlusive covering, 2) micropatch application, but remain uncovered, 3) occlusive covering, no micropatch application. Micropatch application will only occur on the first day and does not contain any drug substance. Trans-epidermal water loss and electrical resistance are re-measured after micropatch removal, along with an additional OCT scan. Electrical resistance and OCT scans will be repeated at all sites for 2 days. Measurements from the 2nd and 3rd sites allow each subject to serve as their own control in data analysis.	Other: Micropatch (microneedle patch)

Name	Type	Description	Arm Group Labels	Other Names
Micropatch (microneedle patch)	Other	Each micropatch contains an array of 50 microneedles.	Micropatch application

Outcomes Module

Primary Outcomes

Measure	Description	Time Frame
Micropore Depth, Upper Arm	The depth of the micropore created at the upper arm will be measured using OCT scans. These data are only collected from the micropatch sites. Data will be calculated as the mean of micropore depth measured at all micropatch sites.	Post microneedle application (Day 0), approximately 5 minutes
Micropore Depth, Volar Forearm	The depth of the micropore created at the volar forearm will be measured using OCT scans. These data are only collected from the micropatch sites. Data will be calculated as the mean of micropore depth measured at all micropatch sites.	Post microneedle application (Day 0), approximately 5 minutes
Micropore Depth, Palm	The depth of the micropore created at the palm will be measured using OCT scans. These data are only collected from the micropatch sites. Data will be calculated as the mean of micropore depth measured at all micropatch sites.	Post microneedle application (Day 0), approximately 5 minutes

Secondary Outcomes

Measure	Description	Time Frame
Change in Trans-epidermal Water Loss, Upper Arm	The percent change in trans-epidermal water loss from baseline to post-micropatch application at the upper arm sites will be calculated. These data are only collected from the micropatch sites. Percent change is calculated as (trans-epidermal water loss after micropatch application/baseline trans-epidermal water loss) x 100. Data will be calculated as the mean of measurements from the micropatch sites at the upper arm.

Eligibility Module

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects will be healthy men and women between 18 and 45 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

Unable to give consent
Severe general allergies requiring chronic treatment with steroid or antihistamines
Previous adverse reaction to microneedle insertion
History of keloids
Known allergy or adverse reaction to medical tape/adhesive, or aloe vera
Any inflammatory diseases of the skin (including but not limited to: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and blistering skin disorders)
Any disease associated with altered immune function (including but not limited to: rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, HIV/AIDS)
Any subject taking medication that impairs the immune system (including but not limited to corticosteroids, TNF inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy agents)
Any current malignancy or history of malignancy present at the treatment sites
Eczema or scaling present at any treatment site; any current inflammation or irritation present at the treatment sites (including but not limited to: rash, inflammation, erythema, edema, blisters)
Uncontrolled mental illness that would, in the opinion of the investigator, affect the subject's ability to understand or reliably participate in the study
Subjects taking medications in the following therapeutic classes will be excluded: HMGCoA reductase inhibitors ("statins"), oral or topical steroids (at the local treatment site), oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics at the local treatment site, topical antihistamines at the local treatment site, beta-blockers, and systemic or topical NSAIDS/analgesics. A subject who has recently used oral or topical steroids, antibiotics, antihistamines, or analgesics may be enrolled if more than 5 elimination half-lives of the drug have passed since the last dose (this is a typical parameter in pharmacokinetics, when it is assumed that ~97% of drug in the systemic circulation is eliminated after 5 half-lives). The estimated elimination half-life for any specific drug will be obtained from standard pharmacy references such as Micromedex or other comparable drug information references.
Any subjects that are pregnant/nursing will be excluded from participation.
Subjects will also be excluded for any condition that would, in the opinion of the PI or physician, place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol.

Name	Affiliation	Role
Nicole Brogden, PharmD, PhD	University of Iowa	Principal Investigator

Facility	Status	City	State	ZIP	Country	Contacts
University of Iowa		Iowa City	Iowa	52242	United States

PubMed Identifier	Type	Citation	Retractions
40042738	Derived	Cota V, Brogden NK. Micropore visualization and lifetime following microneedle application to skin of differing pigments. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2025 Oct;15(10):3528-3541. doi: 10.1007/s13346-025-01817-9. Epub 2025 Mar 5.

Arm/Group Information

ID	Title	Description
FG000	Micropatch Application	All participants will complete this arm. Three sites each on the upper arm, volar (inner) forearm, and palm will be identified. Baseline measurements of trans-epidermal water loss, electrical resistance, and color will be made at each site. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans will be made at each site. Color will only be measured at baseline. One site at each location will undergo the following interventions: 1) micropatch application and an occlusive covering, 2) micropatch application, but remain uncovered, 3) occlusive covering, no micropatch application. Micropatch application will only occur on the first day and does not contain any drug substance. Trans-epidermal water loss and electrical resistance are re-measured after micropatch removal, along with an additional OCT scan. Electrical resistance and OCT scans will be repeated at all sites for 2 days. Measurements from the 2nd and 3rd sites allow each subject to serve as their own control in data analysis. Micropatch (microneedle patch): Each micropatch contains an array of 50 microneedles.

Baseline Characteristics Module

Arm/Group Information

ID	Title	Description
BG000	Micropatch Application	All participants will complete this arm. Three sites each on the upper arm, volar (inner) forearm, and palm will be identified. Baseline measurements of trans-epidermal water loss, electrical resistance, and color will be made at each site. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans will be made at each site. Color will only be measured at baseline. One site at each location will undergo the following interventions: 1) micropatch application and an occlusive covering, 2) micropatch application, but remain uncovered, 3) occlusive covering, no micropatch application. Micropatch application will only occur on the first day and does not contain any drug substance. Trans-epidermal water loss and electrical resistance are re-measured after micropatch removal, along with an additional OCT scan. Electrical resistance and OCT scans will be repeated at all sites for 2 days. Measurements from the 2nd and 3rd sites allow each subject to serve as their own control in data analysis. Micropatch (microneedle patch): Each micropatch contains an array of 50 microneedles.

Units	Counts
Participants	BG000

Title	Description	Population Description	Parameter Type	Dispersion Type	Unit of Measure	Calculate Percentage	Denominator Units Selected	Denominators	Classes
Age, Continuous			Mean

Outcome Measures Module

Outcome Measures

Type

Title

Description

Population Description

Reporting Status

Anticipated Posting Date

Parameter Type

Dispersion Type

Unit of Measure

Calculate Percentage

Time Frame

Units Analyzed

Denominator Units Selected

Arm/Group Information

Denominators

Classes

Analyses

Primary

Micropore Depth, Upper Arm

The depth of the micropore created at the upper arm will be measured using OCT scans. These data are only collected from the micropatch sites. Data will be calculated as the mean of micropore depth measured at all micropatch sites.

Posted

Mean

Standard Deviation

micrometer

Post microneedle application (Day 0), approximately 5 minutes

ID	Title	Description
OG000	Micropatch Application	All participants will complete this arm. Three sites each on the upper arm, volar (inner) forearm, and palm will be identified. Baseline measurements of trans-epidermal water loss, electrical resistance, and color will be made at each site. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans will be made at each site. Color will only be measured at baseline. One site at each location will undergo the following interventions: 1) micropatch application and an occlusive covering, 2) micropatch application, but remain uncovered, 3) occlusive covering, no micropatch application. Micropatch application will only occur on the first day and does not contain any drug substance. Trans-epidermal water loss and electrical resistance are re-measured after micropatch removal, along with an additional OCT scan. Electrical resistance and OCT scans will be repeated at all sites for 2 days. Measurements from the 2nd and 3rd sites allow each subject to serve as their own control in data analysis. Micropatch (microneedle patch): Each micropatch contains an array of 50 microneedles.

Adverse Events Module

Arm/Groups

ID	Title	Description	Deaths (Affected)	Deaths (At Risk)	Serious Events (Affected)	Serious Events (At Risk)	Other Events (Affected)	Other Events (At Risk)
EG000	Micropatch Application	All participants will complete this arm. Three sites each on the upper arm, volar (inner) forearm, and palm will be identified. Baseline measurements of trans-epidermal water loss, electrical resistance, and color will be made at each site. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans will be made at each site. Color will only be measured at baseline. One site at each location will undergo the following interventions: 1) micropatch application and an occlusive covering, 2) micropatch application, but remain uncovered, 3) occlusive covering, no micropatch application. Micropatch application will only occur on the first day and does not contain any drug substance. Trans-epidermal water loss and electrical resistance are re-measured after micropatch removal, along with an additional OCT scan. Electrical resistance and OCT scans will be repeated at all sites for 2 days. Measurements from the 2nd and 3rd sites allow each subject to serve as their own control in data analysis. Micropatch (microneedle patch): Each micropatch contains an array of 50 microneedles.