Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Hydrogel-Based Microneedles for Bioactive Release

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Microneedle arrays are minimally invasive devices for transdermal and intradermal drug delivery.
• Hydrogel-based microneedles offer potential for controlled release of bioactive molecules.
• Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) is a versatile hydrogel material for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the release of bioactive molecules from pHEMA hydrogel microneedle patches in vitro.
• To evaluate the mechanical properties of pHEMA microneedles for tissue penetration.
• To analyze the release kinetics of bioactives from the microneedle system.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of pHEMA hydrogel microneedle patches.
• In vitro release studies of estradiol, melatonin, and meropenem.
• Mechanical testing of microneedles using phantom tissues.
• Mathematical modeling of drug release kinetics (zero-order, first-order, second-order).

Main Results:

• pHEMA microneedles exhibited sufficient mechanical strength for soft tissue penetration.
• Successful in vitro release of estradiol, melatonin, and meropenem was demonstrated.
• Bioactive release profiles were successfully fitted to established kinetic models.

Conclusions:

• pHEMA hydrogel microneedles are a viable platform for transdermal delivery of diverse bioactives.
• The mechanical robustness and controlled release capabilities support their potential clinical application.
• This technology holds promise for minimally invasive treatment of various medical conditions.