Mattioli Engineering
Unleashing the Power of Transdermal Delivery

Mattioli Engineering is a leading medical equipment manufacturing company that is at the forefront of transdermal delivery innovation.

The company’s continuous efforts in developing cutting-edge technologies have resulted in significant advancements in the field of dermatology. Notable milestones include the Pepita Microdermabrasion System in 1996, and its subsequent enhancement with the release of the Ultrapeel Microdermabraders in 2001.

By pushing the boundaries of how substances are administered into the skin, Mattioli has significantly expanded the traditional usage of its products beyond cosmetic therapies like collagen or Botox treatments. Their technologies are contributing to pioneering developments in the sphere of regenerative medicine, reflecting their ingenuity and adaptability in an ever-evolving field.

One of Mattioli’s most significant achievements is the development of its proprietary Dermoelectroporation (DEP) technology, a novel system designed to enhance the permeability of the skin for delivering large molecules through the skin barrier without causing any harm. This technology uses shape controlled, short current pulses transmitted between adjacent electrodes to create microchannels through the skin’s stratum corneum and other epidermis layers.

The main advantage of this technology is to enable substances to reach large areas of the skin, which have always been challenging to deliver topically due to the skin barrier. Regardless of the type and size of the molecules, this process permits the transdermal delivery of any substance.

The DEP system comprises three main parts: a power supply and control base, a handpiece, and a syringe liquid dispenser. The power supply and control base generates the necessary electrical impulses. The handpiece is the part of the system physically held by the operator, which delivers the electrical impulses to the skin.

The liquid dispenser, connected to the handpiece, administers the substance to be delivered. The substance is stored in a disposable drug-loaded syringe and delivered to a disposable cap.

It’s also important to note the DEP system is compatible with two syringe sizes, 5 cm3 and 10 cm3, which allows for flexibility depending on the amount of substance needed for delivery.

“The DEP system also overcomes the limitations regarding the size and polarisation of molecules often associated with other delivery methods, such as DC iontophoresis,” says Gian Franco Bernabei, president of Mattioli Engineering.

Traditional iontophoresis requires modifications to the ionic drug solution’s pH and often results in an electrolysis reaction at the site of the electrodes, which can degrade the molecule being delivered. However, DEP does not require these modifications and avoids electrolysis reactions, ensuring both positive and negative ions of the product are delivered into the body without degrading the molecule. This unique feature allows DEP to deliver products into the skin with a very high absorption rate.

One of Mattioli’s most significant achievements is the development of its proprietary Dermoelectroporation (DEP) technology, a novel system designed to enhance the permeability of the skin without causing any harm

Patients using the DEP system may feel a sensation akin to many small needles on the skin. This is generated through water channels and the salt within. To mitigate this needle-like sensation, Mattioli has incorporated vibration into its system, which helps attenuate any discomfort.

Mattioli’s pioneering, FDA-approved technology is a substantial leap forward in transdermal delivery and lays the groundwork for many improved medical treatments and procedures. Molecular therapy—specifically with the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)—is one such focus area where transdermal delivery technologies can create an impact to promote tissue repair and rejuvenation. Mattioli differentiates itself by facilitating the transdermal delivery of high-molecular-weight therapeutics, reaching up to a substantial 1,000 kDa.

Exosome delivery is another field in which Mattioli’s technologies play a crucial role. Exosomes are used in the delivery of mRNA into cells, offering potential advantages such as lower immunogenicity and toxicity, a better ability to cross cell and tissue barriers, and the potential for more efficient delivery into cells.

Today, rigorous clinical studies performed by the Department of Anatomy at the University of Florence, Italy, attest to Mattioli’s DEP system’s efficacy. As Mattioli forges ahead, it is poised to bring more transdermal delivery advancements for healthcare and aesthetic treatments—opening the door to a future brimming with unprecedented opportunities.