Protein-Capturing Microgel-Integrated Microneedle Array Patches for Enhanced Tip-Loading, Storage Stability, and...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Immunology

Background:

• Microneedles offer promising transdermal drug delivery but struggle with protein loading and stability.
• Current methods lack efficient strategies for incorporating and preserving labile protein therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microgel-integrated microneedle array patch (MI-MAP) for improved transdermal delivery of proteins.
• To enhance protein cargo localization in microneedle tips and improve their stability.
• To evaluate the efficacy of MI-MAP for delivering recombinant proteins and inducing an immune response.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microgel-integrated microneedle array patch (MI-MAP).
• Incorporation of protein-capturing microgels into microneedle tips.
• Assessment of protein stabilization (botulinum neurotoxin, interferon alpha-2a, SARS-CoV-2 RBD) at 25 °C for 28 days.
• Evaluation of transdermal delivery of CpG-adjuvanted RBD in mice, comparing MI-MAP to HA-MAP and subcutaneous injection.

Main Results:

• MI-MAP successfully localized and stabilized protein cargoes in microneedle tips.
• Proteins stored in MI-MAP showed enhanced stability compared to controls (HA-MAP).
• Transdermal delivery of RBD-CpG via MI-MAP induced a faster neutralizing antibody response and B-cell proliferation in mice than other methods.

Conclusions:

• Microgel integration in microneedles significantly improves protein loading and storage stability.
• MI-MAP represents a viable strategy for effective transdermal delivery of protein-based therapeutics.
• This approach holds potential for developing advanced protein vaccines and therapies.