Zein-maltodextrin nanocomplex based dissolving microneedle: A promising approach for Paliperidone palmitate delivery

Researchers are looking at microneedle devices as a possible solution to the problems with poor patient compliance and severe gastrointestinal side effects associated with conventional oral or injectable techniques for treating schizophrenia. Microneedles (MNs) may be an effective approach for transdermal drug delivery of antipsychotic drugs. We fabricated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microneedles loaded with paliperidone palmitate (PLDN) nanocomplex and studied their therapeutic potency for schizophrenia. We demonstrated that PLDN nanocomplex-loaded MNs had a pyramidal shape with high mechanical strength, which allowed us to successfully deliver PLDN into the skin and improve permeation behavior ex-vivo. Microneedling enhanced the concentration of PLDN in plasma and brain tissue as compared with the plain drug as observed. In addition, the therapeutic effectiveness was significantly improved by MNs with the capability of extended release. According to the findings of our study, the nanocomplex-loaded microneedle-mediated transdermal delivery of PLDN has the potential to be a novel treatment for schizophrenia.