Delivery of salmon calcitonin using a microneedle patch

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Peptides and polypeptides possess significant pharmacological potential but face delivery challenges, often requiring parenteral administration.
• Parenteral delivery methods like injections can cause pain, infection risk, and necessitate trained personnel.
• Developing alternative, patient-friendly delivery systems for peptide therapeutics is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a transdermal patch utilizing microneedles (MNs) coated with salmon calcitonin (sCT).
• To assess sCT delivery via MNs as a viable alternative to subcutaneous and nasal administration routes.
• To investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of sCT delivered through MNs.

Main Methods:

• Microneedles were coated with salmon calcitonin (sCT) and characterized using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
• In vivo studies were conducted on hairless rats to determine serum sCT levels via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
• Pharmacokinetic parameters, including Area Under the Curve (AUC) and Time to Maximum concentration (Tmax), were analyzed and compared across different administration routes.

Main Results:

• The AUC for MN-delivered sCT (250 ± 83 ng/mL min) was comparable to subcutaneous injections (403 ± 253 ng/mL min).
• MN-mediated sCT delivery resulted in AUC values approximately 13 times higher than nasal administration (18.4 ± 14.5 ng/mL min).
• The Tmax for MN administration (7.5 ± 5 min) was 50% shorter than subcutaneous injections (15 min), indicating rapid absorption.

Conclusions:

• Microneedle patches represent a promising transdermal delivery system for salmon calcitonin (sCT).
• This MN-based approach offers an effective and potentially less invasive alternative to traditional subcutaneous and nasal peptide delivery.
• Further optimization of coating formulations could enhance the utility of microneedles for peptide therapeutics.