Rapidly dissolving microneedle patch embedded with long-acting microspheres for sustained release of goserelin

Goserelin is widely employed as a form of androgen deprivation therapy in the management of prostate cancer. Given the chronic nature of hormonal therapy, sustained and long-term drug administration is essential to ensure therapeutic efficacy. Goserelin is often formulated as sustained-release implants or microspheres requiring intramuscular injections. Both delivery methods necessitate administration by trained healthcare personnel and are frequently associated with poor patient compliance due to procedural invasiveness and considerable discomfort. Herein, we developed a goserelin microsphere-loaded microneedle (GSR-MN) patch as a minimally invasive alternative. The microneedles exhibit robust mechanical strength and rapid dissolution properties, enabling them to effectively penetrate the stratum corneum and facilitate the delivery of goserelin microspheres into the underlying skin tissue. The GSR-MN patch demonstrates excellent biocompatibility and biosafety, and is capable of sustaining goserelin release over a 28-day period. The therapeutic outcomes were comparable to those of conventional intramuscular goserelin microsphere administration, offering a promising strategy to improve patient adherence and reduce treatment-associated discomfort.