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Microneedle-Assisted Transfersomes as a Transdermal Delivery System for Aspirin
Raha Rahbari1, Lewis Francis1, Owen J Guy2
1Centre for Nanohealth, Institute of Life Science 2, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Pharmaceutics
|January 23, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a novel transdermal drug delivery system combining transfersomes with microneedles for enhanced aspirin delivery. The system significantly improves drug permeation through the skin, offering a promising alternative for systemic drug administration.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Transdermal drug delivery offers advantages like avoiding first-pass metabolism and patient convenience.
- Conventional methods face challenges with drug solubility and controlled release.
- Novel systems are needed to enhance drug permeation and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel transdermal drug delivery system for aspirin.
- To evaluate the efficacy of transfersomes combined with microneedles for enhanced transdermal permeation.
- To assess the drug release profile and cytotoxicity of the developed system.
Main Methods:
- Aspirin was encapsulated in transfersomes using thin-film hydration sonication.
- Transfersomes were characterized for size, charge, and stability.
- Transfersomes combined with silicon or polycarbonate microneedles were used for permeation studies on porcine skin.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed for characterization.
- In vitro permeation and cytotoxicity studies were conducted.
Main Results:
- High encapsulation efficiency (approx. 67.5%) was achieved for aspirin in transfersomes.
- Transfersomes alone enhanced aspirin permeability over fourfold compared to free aspirin.
- Microneedle-assisted delivery significantly increased permeation by 13-fold (silicon) and 10-fold (polycarbonate) versus transfersomes alone.
- Encapsulated aspirin showed cytotoxicity at concentrations ≥100 μg/mL.
- The system demonstrated potential for controlled release of low-water-soluble drugs.
Conclusions:
- The developed transfersome-microneedle system effectively enhances transdermal drug delivery.
- This combination overcomes drug solubility issues and enables controlled release.
- Microneedles facilitate deeper skin penetration, improving systemic drug delivery.
- The system holds potential for various therapeutic applications.
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