Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing of Buccal Microneedle Patches for Enhanced Trans-Mucosal Drug Transport

About the Project

Project Details

Buccal drug delivery offers a promising, non-invasive route for the systemic administration of both small-molecule and biologic therapeutics. To date however, its broader clinical utility is limited by poor permeability of the oral mucosa and enzymatic degradation within the oral cavity. Microneedle (MN) technologies are well established in transdermal delivery and provide a compelling strategy to overcome these barriers, yet their application to buccal tissues remains underexplored. This project aims to advance buccal drug delivery through the design, fabrication, and evaluation of highly precise microneedle patches produced using additive manufacturing techniques. These will include two-photon polymerisation (2PP) using the CELLINK Nanoscribe Quantum X bio 3D printer at Aston University, the first of its kind to be installed by Nanoscribe in the UK.

The first objective will engineer microneedle geometries optimised for buccal tissue insertion, mechanical resilience, and release profile. By tailoring microstructures, the study will identify design parameters that enable reliable penetration of the keratinised and non-keratinised regions of the oral mucosa with minimal patient discomfort and risk of adverse effects. To support systematic optimisation, a structured Design of Experiments (DOE) approach will be employed. Material selection will focus on biocompatible, photopolymerisable resins suitable for drug loading or for forming drug-containing matrices.

The second objective is to investigate the capacity of these MN systems to deliver both small-molecule compounds and biologics. Encapsulation strategies, including matrix-loaded, dip-coated, and layered designs, will be evaluated for stability, release kinetics, and compatibility. In vitro permeation studies using buccal models will quantify enhancement in trans-mucosal transport, while analytical assays will assess formulation integrity post-fabrication and post-delivery.

Anticipated project outcomes will demonstrate how 2PP-engineered microneedle patches can significantly enhance buccal delivery of diverse therapeutics. This work will provide a platform to support future translational development of minimally invasive, patient-friendly buccal delivery platforms.

Overseas Applicants

Overseas applicants may apply for this studentship but will need to pay the difference between the ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees. Currently the difference between ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees is £17,712 for 2026/7. As part of the application, you will be required to confirm that you will provide this additional funding. Please indicate this on the application form in the funding section. This project has associated consumables costs which should be discussed with the supervisor in the first instance and before applying. The supervisor can be contacted at c.russell6@aston.ac.uk. When applying, please upload copies of your discussions with the supervisor as confirmation.

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Person Specification

Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER:

a] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, in a relevant subject.

OR

b] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, and a Merit or Distinction in a Masters degree, both in a relevant subject.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Contact information

For formal enquiries about this project contact Dr Craig Russell at c.russell6@aston.ac.uk

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Apply for this position here

Please select “Research - Health Sciences” from the application form options.

If you require further information about the application process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at pgr_admissions@aston.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This project covers the Home tuition fees. Candidates who do not have Home status will be responsible for the difference in tuition fees. Currently the difference between ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees is £17,712 for 2026/7. This project has associated consumables costs which should be discussed with the supervisor in the first instance and before applying. The supervisor can be contacted at c.russell6@aston.ac.uk. When applying, please upload copies of your discussions with the supervisor as confirmation.