Background: The goal of this work was to develop a levonorgestrel liposome-loaded microneedle array patch for contraception.
Methods: Levonorgestrel-loaded liposome was formulated by a solvent injection technique, characterized, and studied.
Results: The formulated liposomes were characterized for particle size (147 ± 8 nm), polydispersity index (0.207 ± 0.03), zeta potential (-23 ± 4.25 mV), drug loading (18 ± 3.22%) and entrapment efficiency (85 ± 4.34%). A cryo high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and cryo field emission gun scanning electron microscopy study showed spherical shaped particles with a smooth surface. The in vitro drug release and in vivo pharmacokinetic study showed sustained behaviour of Levonorgestrel for 28 days.
Conclusion: The levonorgestrel liposome-loaded microneedle array patch showed better contraception than the drug-loaded microneedle array patch.
Keywords: contraception; drug delivery; levonorgestrel; liposomes; microneedle; nanotechnology; sustained-release.