Cedrol-loaded dissolvable microneedles based on flexible backing for promoting hair growth

ABSTRACTObjectives The dissolvable microneedles loaded with cedrol based on flexible backing were developed to deliver cedrol directly and continuously to the dermis, where the drug concentration in the hair follicle can be increased locally.Methods The tip-layer matrix solution was prepared by mixing cedrol and polyvinylpyrrolidone K25 (PVP K25), and the pedestal matrix solution was prepared with aqueous hyaluronic acid. The cedrol-loaded dissolvable microneedles (cedrol-DMNs) were prepared under vacuum conditions. The mechanical properties, pig skin penetration efficiency, in vitro cutaneous permeation test, and the amount of drug in the skin and receptor chamber were evaluated. Pharmacodynamical studies were performed with C57BL/6 mice.Results The mechanical properties of cedrol-DMNs were good. In vitro cutaneous permeation tests and pharmacodynamical studies demonstrated that cedrol-DMN could efficiently deliver the drug to the deep dermis and effectively promote hair growth.Conclusions The cedrol-DMNs offer a promising strategy for treating patients suffering from hair loss.KEYWORDS: CedrolDissolvable microneedlesAlopeciaHair growthTransdermal drug delivery Author contributionsYanjun Zhou and Luan Jia: Conceptualization; Investigation; Software; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing. Guangshuai Zhang: Investigation; Writing – original draft. Gang Chen: Investigation; Software. Di Zhou: Supervision; Resources. Xianbao Shi: Supervision. Qiang Fu and Ning Li: Funding acquisition; Project administration; Resources; Writing – review & editing. All authors have read and agreed to the author contribution statements.Declaration of interestThe authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.Reviewer disclosuresPeer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.Additional informationFundingThis work was financially supported by Scientific Research Fund of Liaoning Province Education Department (LJKZ0945, LJKZ0949), Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2022-MS-242), Science Foundation for Outstanding Youth of Liaoning Province (2021-YQ-08), Natural Science Foundation Funding Program of Liaoning Province (2022-MS-096), Basic Research Projects of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (2020LFW01), Career Development Program for Young Teachers (ZQN2019003) and the Outstanding Youth Lifting Program (YQ202115) in Shenyang Pharmaceutical University.