Biodegradable β-Cyclodextrin Conjugated Gelatin Methacryloyl Microneedle for Delivery of Water-Insoluble Drug

Adv Healthc Mater. 2020 Jun;9(11):e2000527. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202000527. Epub 2020 May 4.

Abstract

Transdermal delivery of water-insoluble drugs via hydrogel-based microneedle (MN) arrays is crucial for improving their therapeutic efficacies. However, direct loading of water-insoluble drug into hydrophilic matrices remains challenging. Here, a biodegradable MN array patch that is fabricated from naturally derived polymer conjugates of gelatin methacryloyl and β-cyclodextrin (GelMA-β-CD) is reported. When curcumin, an unstable and water-insoluble anticancer drug, is loaded as a model drug, its stability and solubility are improved due to the formation of an inclusion complex. The polymer-drug complex GelMA-β-CD/CUR can be formulated into MN arrays with sufficient mechanical strength for skin penetration and tunable drug release profile. Anticancer efficacy of released curcumin is observed in three-dimensional B16F10 melanoma models. The GelMA-β-CD/CUR MN exhibits relatively higher therapeutic efficacy through more localized and deeper penetrated manner compared with a control nontransdermal patch. In vivo studies also verify biocompatibility and degradability of the GelMA-β-CD MN arrays patch.

Keywords: gelatin methacryloyl; microneedles; transdermal delivery; water insoluble drugs; β-cyclodextrin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Gelatin*
  • Needles
  • Water
  • beta-Cyclodextrins*

Substances

  • beta-Cyclodextrins
  • Water
  • Gelatin