Nanoparticle-infused-biodegradable-microneedles as drug-delivery systems: preparation and characterisation. Issue 16 (22nd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sully, Rachel E.; Garelick, Hemda; Loizidou, Eriketi Z.; Podoleanu, Adrian G.; Gubala, Vladimir
• Is Part Of: Materials advances. Volume 2:Issue 16(2021)
• Page Start: 5432
• Page End: 5442
• Publication Date: 2021-07-22
• Subjects: 620.11
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ma00135c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2633-5409

Abstract

Abstract : For almost two decades, scientists have been exploring the use of nanoparticles as drug vesicles capable of protecting their cargo and deliver it to the target site while evading detection by the body. Abstract : For almost two decades, scientists have been exploring the use of nanoparticles as drug vesicles capable of protecting their cargo and deliver it to the target site while evading detection by the body. However, their translation to clinical use has been slower than expected. To a large degree, this is due to the difficulty to formulate the nanomaterial into a usable form, in which they retain their unique, size-dependent properties without aggregating into a bulk material. In this work, we describe a simple methodology for synthesising novel biodegradable microneedle systems infused with silica nanoparticles (SiNP). SiNP were doped with small library of model anti-cancer drugs or drug surrogates before being characterised and encapsulated into biodegradable microneedles. Detailed preparation and characterisation methods for both the nanoparticles and the microneedles-infused with nanoparticles are presented here. We demonstrated the distribution of the nanoparticles within the microneedle matrix in a uniform, un-aggregated form, which enabled the release of the nanoparticles in a sustained manner. Formulating nanomaterial into biodegradable, hydrogel-like microneedles was shown to be effective in preserving their colloidal properties, whilst simultaneously enabling the transdermal delivery of the nanomaterial into the body. Although the concepts of nanoparticles and biodegradable microneedles have been researched individually, the combination of the two, to the best of our knowledge, offers a new pathway to nanomedicine-related applications.