Microneedle patch to deliver trospium for overactive bladder
Official title: Microneedle delivery of Trospium Chloride optimized for improved tolerance and patient outcomes in overactive bladder disease
Funded at Tsrl, INC. · NIH-11180658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tiny microneedle patch that delivers the bladder medicine trospium aims to reduce side effects and improve symptom control for people with overactive bladder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tsrl, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,097,498 |
| NIH project number | 9R44DK143799-02A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with overactive bladder who take or have trouble tolerating oral anticholinergic medicines, especially older adults concerned about cognitive or systemic side effects.
✕Less likely to help
People whose bladder symptoms are controlled by non-anticholinergic treatments, who are allergic to patch components, or who need immediate high-dose oral therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear a small patch made of microscopic needles that puts trospium through the skin so drug levels stay steady instead of spiking. The team is optimizing the patch formulation to lower common anticholinergic side effects like dry mouth and cognitive effects while avoiding the skin irritation seen with older adhesive patches. The work includes lab development and testing of how the patch releases drug and how well it is tolerated. If successful, the project will move the patch toward human tolerability and efficacy testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lower systemic side effects and improve daily bladder symptom control and medication adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Transdermal oxybutynin patches reduced some systemic side effects but caused skin irritation, while microneedle delivery is a newer approach showing promise for steady dosing but remains less tested for trospium.
Where this research is happening
-
Tsrl, INC.
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lipka, Elke — Tsrl, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lipka, Elke
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Microneedle delivery of Trospium for better tolerance in overactive bladder
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.