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A Minimally Invasive 3D-Printed Microneedle Patch System for Effective Breast Cancer Treatment: Fabrication, Characterization and Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Evaluation
* 1 , 2 , 1 , 1
1  Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot – 360005, Gujarat, India
2  Formulation and Process Development, Strides Pharma Inc., New York, USA
Academic Editor: Andrew A. Gumbs

Abstract:

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Although conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are widely used, they often damage healthy tissues and cause serious systemic side effects. These limitations highlight the urgent need for safer and more effective treatment strategies that can deliver drugs precisely to the tumor site while minimizing harm to the rest of the body. Microneedle-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a highly promising and patient-friendly approach. Microneedles are tiny, painless needle-like structures that can penetrate the skin without discomfort, allowing drugs to be delivered directly and efficiently. By enabling localized delivery, microneedles can concentrate the therapeutic agent at the tumor site and significantly reduce unwanted systemic effects. In the present study, polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)-based microneedle patches were developed using an advanced three-dimensional (3D) printing technique known as Projection Micro-Stereolithography (PµSL). This method allowed the fabrication of microneedles with precise and reproducible geometry. The fabricated patches were thoroughly characterized and then coated with resveratrol, a compound known for its anticancer potential. Drug-coated microneedle patches were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, and in vitro drug release studies were carried out using a Franz diffusion cell. Drug administration was performed using a simple and effective “coat-and-poke” approach. The results showed that the microneedles provided sustained drug release for up to 48 hours. Preclinical studies in rats further demonstrated that microneedle-mediated delivery significantly enhanced key pharmacokinetic parameters. Importantly, drug delivery through microneedles achieved greater localization in breast tissue compared to oral administration of the pure drug. Overall, this study underscores the strong potential of PEGDA-based, 3D-printed, drug-coated microneedle patches as an effective, localized, and minimally invasive drug delivery system for improving breast cancer treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Microneedles; 3D printing; PEGDA; Projection Micro-Stereolithography; Resveratrol; Transdermal drug delivery; Localized drug delivery; Sustained release;

 
 
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