Evaluation of Fabricated Solid Microneedles as Smart Approach for Transdermal Drug Delivery System of Astaxanthin

Abstract

Objective: The lack of drugs to effectively cross the stratum corneum (SC), has recently been a significant barrier to transdermal administration. In order to increase the effectiveness of transdermal distribution, this issue has been solved through the development of micron-scale needles. The objective is to develop, formulate and evaluate biocompatible polymeric solid microneedles with a TDDS-loaded Astaxanthin patch involving the poke and patch method. Methods: The solid microneedle arrays were fabricated using an SLA printer with high-resolution potential and was examined using scanning electron microscopy (25 microns at the z-axis and 140 microns at the x-axis, respectively). Fabricated Astaxanthin transdermal film was evaluated by many characterization parameters. The developed microneedle was examined for skin insertion and a drug permeation study was carried out across the porcine skin. Results: Solid MN arrays of 1.85 µm tip-to-tip distance, 600 µm height, 300 µm width, and 30 µm tip diameter, were created using biocompatible Class I Dental SG resin. Microneedle crossed stratum corneum layer and penetrated porcine skin with 381.356 mm in depth, with no structural change. Transdermal patches loaded with astaxanthin drug was developed and using various polymer concentration consistent, good, and transparent films were created of thickness between 0.85±0.07 mm to 0.87±0.01 mm range, with average weights ranging from 168.02±1.05 to 172.22±1.25 10/cm2), Folding Endurance with 10-12 folds was reported for formulated transdermal films; also tensile strength was 0.414±0.002 kg/mm2 and drug content was 94.41±0.42% of the best formulation reported. According to studies on drug permeation, Astaxanthin transdermal patches did not significantly permeate porcine skin without being pierced by microneedles the medication exhibited good penetration characteristics. Conclusion: Upon evaluation, formulated transdermal film was reported to be best for solid microneedle-TDDS of astaxanthin for improved patient compliance, bioavailability, and biomedical applications.