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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Fabrication of a Master Mold for Microneedles with a Micron-sized Air-vent Hole
Published on: December 5, 2025
Recyclable Polymerizable Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Three-Dimensional-Printed Dissolving Microneedles with
Nail Aminov1, Huan Liu1, Decheng Meng1
1State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-space, Key Laboratory of Cluster Science of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Abstract:
Hair loss remains a prevalent dermatological concern with limited options for targeted, sustained transdermal therapy. Conventional topical formulations of minoxidil (MXD) suffer from poor skin penetration, rapid clearance, and low patient compliance. To address these limitations, we developed a three-dimensional-printed, dissolving microneedle (MN) system featuring a novel layered design: a recyclable polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) base and detachable, pH-responsive tips loaded with MXD-encapsulated ZIF-8 nanoparticles. This design allows for rapid insertion and dissolution of the drug-loaded needle tips, enabling the sustainable recovery and reuse of the PDES base through a simple ethanol-based regeneration protocol. The MNs exhibited excellent print fidelity, mechanical integrity (>50 mN fracture force), and skin penetration capability, along with minimal cytotoxicity and hemolysis. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed pH-triggered drug release and potent hair regrowth performance in a cyclophosphamide-induced alopecia mouse model. Histological analysis revealed enhanced hair follicle density and demonstrated minimal systemic toxicity, highlighting its safety profile. Overall, this layered dissolving-recyclable MN platform for pH-triggered delivery of ZIF-8-encapsulated MXD represents a promising, sustainable strategy for transdermal delivery to treat hair loss.
