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Hydrogel Microneedles with Programmed Mesophase Transitions for Controlled Drug Delivery
Hala Dawud1, Nicole Edelstein-Pardo2,3,4, Keerthana Mulamukkil2,3,4
1Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9103501, Israel.
ACS Applied Bio Materials
|February 9, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed novel hydrogel microneedles using amphiphiles for minimally invasive drug delivery. These microneedles demonstrate mechanical strength, controlled drug release, and effective skin penetration for improved therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Microneedle-based drug delivery bypasses the skin barrier for minimally invasive administration.
- Hydrogel microneedles offer precise control over therapeutic agent release.
- Triblock amphiphiles with enzyme-cleavable hydrophobic end-groups are explored for microneedle fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fabrication of hydrogel microneedles from triblock amphiphiles.
- To enhance the mechanical properties of microneedles using a sodium alginate base and polymeric excipients.
- To evaluate the performance of these microneedles in terms of insertion efficiency, mechanical strength, drug release, and skin penetration.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microneedles using triblock amphiphiles, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and dendritic side-blocks.
- Optimization of microneedle formulation with sodium alginate and polymeric excipients.
- Mechanical strength testing using static forces and Parafilm as a skin model.
- In vitro drug release studies using dexamethasone (DEX) as a model drug.
- In vivo insertion tests using chicken skin.
Main Results:
- Optimized microneedles exhibited favorable insertion efficiency and mechanical strength.
- Microneedles swelled into hydrogels rapidly and degraded enzymatically into soluble polymers.
- Dexamethasone release followed first-order kinetics, with 90% released within 6 days.
- Microneedles demonstrated full penetration in chicken skin insertion tests.
Conclusions:
- Hydrogel-forming microneedles fabricated from triblock amphiphiles are feasible.
- These microneedles possess tunable properties for controlled drug release and effective skin delivery.
- The developed system shows potential for self-administration, improved patient compliance, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
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