Biodegradable microneedle patch for delivery of meloxicam for managing pain in cattle

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 2;17(8):e0272169. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272169. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Microneedle patches are a promising source for transdermal diffusion of macromolecules and are designed to painlessly penetrate the skin. In this study, a biodegradable chitosan microneedle patch to deliver meloxicam for managing pain in cattle was tested. The potential of reuse of the polymeric solution to fabricate the patches, optimization of fabrication, morphological analysis of the microneedle patch and analysis of preservation of the chemical composition after sterilization were evaluated. In-vitro analysis consisted of studying in-vitro penetration mechanical properties, compression testing analysis of microneedle patch, and in-vitro drug release analysis. In-vivo studies were performed to analyze the dissolution capability of the microneedle patch. Results regarding the physical characteristics, chemical composition, and mechanical properties confirmed that rheological properties of the chitosan solution, present significant differences over time, demonstrating that reusing the solution on the fourth day results in failure patches. Morphological characteristics and chemical composition studies revealed that the process of sterilization (ethylene oxide gas) needed for implanting the patches into the skin did not affect the properties of microneedle patches. In-vitro studies showed that approximately 33.02 ± 3.88% of the meloxicam was released over 7 days. A full penetration of the microneedles into the skin can be obtained by applying approximately 3.2 N. In-vivo studies demonstrated that microneedle patches were capable of swelling and dissolving, exhibiting a dissolution percentage of more than 50% of the original height of microneedle after 7 days. No abnormal tissue, swelling, or inflammation was observed in the implanted area. The results of this work show that chitosan biodegradable microneedle patches may be useful to deliver meloxicam to improve pain management of cattle with positive effects for commercial manufacturing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chitosan* / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Meloxicam / pharmacology
  • Needles
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / veterinary
  • Pain Management
  • Skin
  • Transdermal Patch

Substances

  • Chitosan
  • Meloxicam

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the US Department of Agriculture under award no. 2021-67015-35675 awarded to JP, the Chancellor's Fund for Innovation and Collaboration from the University of Arkansas awarded to JA, and by the “Programa de Apoyo Institucional Para la Formación en Estudios de Posgrados en Maestrías y Doctorados de La Universidad del Atlántico, Colombia” by providing DCC a Scholarship, awarded to DACC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.