How dissolving polymeric microneedles overcome the fundamental delivery barrier of periorbital skincare — and why this represents a categorical advance over hydrogel sheets, eye creams, and standard cosmetic eye patches.
The skin of the periorbital zone — including the upper eyelid and lower orbital region — is the thinnest on the human face, approximately 0.5mm compared to 2.0mm on the cheek. This anatomical reality creates a paradox: the periorbital zone is both the most sensitive area for visible aging and the most challenging for topical active delivery. While thin skin theoretically offers less barrier resistance, the periorbital skin is also low in sebaceous gland density, reducing the follicular shunt pathway that aids penetration of many actives elsewhere.
Standard hydrogel eye patches and eye creams have no mechanism for bypassing the stratum corneum — they rely entirely on passive diffusion from an aqueous or emulsion vehicle, achieving surface hydration at best. For actives larger than 500 Da, meaningful periorbital penetration is essentially unachievable through conventional topical formats.
Dissolving polymeric microneedles physically penetrate the stratum corneum, delivering their active payload directly into the viable epidermis without needles remaining in the skin. Each microneedle is a solid polymer cone — typically PVA/PVP matrix — loaded with water-soluble actives. On contact with skin moisture, the polymer dissolves in 15–20 minutes, releasing the payload in situ at the site of penetration.
| Delivery Format | Stratum Corneum Penetration | Viable Epidermis Delivery | Suitable for Large MW Actives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye Cream | Surface only | None | No |
| Standard Hydrogel Patch | Passive diffusion only | Minimal | No |
| Dissolving Microneedle Patch | Physical bypass (600μm) | Confirmed | Yes |
The NAD+ Microneedle Patch integrates 3,600 dissolving microneedles per patch, each 600μm in height and 300μm in base diameter. This geometry is optimized for: sufficient penetration depth to fully bypass the stratum corneum (average SC thickness 10–20μm, meaning 600μm needles reach well into the viable epidermis); sufficient aspect ratio for structural integrity during application without bending or buckling; and sufficient inter-needle spacing to avoid tissue compression artifacts.
The polymer matrix — PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) at 40% and PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) at 40% — dissolves completely in 15–20 minutes, leaving no residue. The active payload (NMN 40%, Spermidine 3%, Glutathione 2%, Trehalose 15%) is delivered directly into the viable epidermis, entirely bypassing the lipid diffusion barrier that limits every conventional periorbital topical.
View the NAD+ Microneedle Patch →