The combination of photodynamic therapy and drug delivery microneedle (MN) provides a safe and effective way to treat tumors. In this paper, we designed a controlled and sustained-release drug-loaded microneedle patch (LED-losartan-HEMA/CS-MN, LLH-CSMN) based on chitosan loaded with high-energy photons, investigated its preparation process, and characterized the morphology and size of the microneedle array with losartan as the model drug. The mechanical properties of LLH-CSMN, skin puncture properties, slow release properties and the photothermal properties of high energy photons under long-term operation were investigated. The experimental results showed that the chitosan-based microneedle patch loaded with high-energy photons can effectively open channels on the skin surface for drug delivery and photodynamic therapy. At the same time, the in vitro percutaneous diffusion experiment showed that the microneedles prepared with losartan as the model drug released about 30% of the drug within 1 h, about 60% of the drug in total within 1 d, followed by slow release, and finally released 93% of the drug after 6 d. LLH-CSMN has controllable slow-release characteristics and good long-term photoassisted therapy effect. It provides a new safe and effective way for tumor treatment.
Keywords: chitosan microneedle; drug sustained-release; photodynamic therapy; tumor.