Poly(2‐Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Hydrogel‐Based Microneedles for Metformin Release

• DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202300002
• Publication Date: 2023-07-06T02:40:33Z
• Authors: Manoj B. Sharma; Özlem Kap; Hend A. M. Abdelm...; Mark D. Ashton; Garry R. Harper; Melike Firlak; Jasmine E. Aaltonen; Kerry A. Bolland; Ryan Bragg; Sarah Deeley; Ella Francis; Nahin Kazi; Bethany L. Mapley; Vasileios Oikonomou; Amal D. Aljohani; David Cheneler; Volkan Kilic; Nesrin Horzum; John G. Hardy
• Keywords: Environmental sciences; Technology; microneedles; diabetes; T; aging; drug delivery; cancer; GE1-350; hydrogels; Research Articles; 3. Good health

AbstractThe release of metformin, a drug used in the treatment of cancer and diabetes, from poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate), pHEMA, hydrogel‐based microneedle patches is demonstrated in vitro. Tuning the composition of the pHEMA hydrogels enables preparation of robust microneedle patches with mechanical properties such that they would penetrate skin (insertion force of a single microneedle to be ≈40 N). Swelling experiments conducted at 20, 35, and 60 °C show temperature‐dependent degrees of swelling and diffusion kinetics. Drug release from the pHEMA hydrogel‐based microneedles is fitted to various models (e.g., zero order, first order, second order). Such pHEMA microneedles have potential application for transdermal delivery of metformin for the treatment of aging, cancer, diabetes, etc.