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A microneedle platform for buccal macromolecule delivery
Ester Caffarel-Salvador1,2, Soyoung Kim2, Vance Soares2
1Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Science Advances
|February 1, 2021
Summary
Highly drug-loaded microneedle (MN) patches deliver biologics like insulin painlessly and rapidly via the buccal mucosa. This novel approach enhances drug adherence and offers a promising alternative for pediatric and elderly patients.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Materials Science
Background:
- Conventional drug delivery faces challenges in patient adherence and administration efficiency.
- Microneedles (MNs) offer a transdermal alternative, but drug loading capacity is limited by solubility.
- Macromolecule delivery via the buccal mucosa presents an opportunity for faster systemic absorption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a highly drug-loaded microneedle (MN) patch for buccal drug delivery.
- To assess the feasibility of delivering macromolecules, specifically insulin and human growth hormone, via buccal MNs.
- To evaluate the safety and patient comfort of buccal MN application.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microneedle patches with high drug-loading capacity for macromolecules.
- Application of MN patches to the buccal mucosa of swine for delivery of insulin and human growth hormone.
- Clinical trial with 100 healthy volunteers to assess comfort and identify optimal application sites within the oral cavity.
Main Results:
- Successful delivery of 1-mg insulin and human growth hormone payloads to the buccal cavity of swine within 30 seconds.
- Identification of the hard palate as the preferred and most comfortable site for buccal MN application in human volunteers.
- Demonstration of MN patches as a viable platform for rapid and efficient buccal delivery of biologics.
Conclusions:
- Buccal microneedle patches enable rapid, painless delivery of high-value biologics, overcoming previous drug-loading limitations.
- This technology has the potential to significantly improve medication adherence, particularly for pediatric and elderly populations.
- Buccal MNs represent a promising advancement in drug delivery, offering a faster alternative to transdermal routes.
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