Microneedle-mediated transdermal delivery of chondroitin sulfate

Microneedle-mediated transdermal drug delivery is a non-invasive delivery method for drugs through the various layers of the skin to reach systemic circulation. Microneedles are large enough to permeate through skin and form microconduits that allow drugs to penetrate into skin, but small enough to avoid causing pain. In this study, we prepared a microneedle dermaroller composed of 3600 microneedles with 230 μm in length and examined the effects of microneedle pretreatment on the skin permeation of chondroitin sulfate. t was confirmed that microneedles created microconduits that allow chondroitin sulfate to permeate into skin. The more microneedle treatment created more microconduits, leading to the more permeation of CS-FITC into skin. Microneedle treatment in mutual cross direction is more effective in CS-FITC-permeation than in parallel direction. After microneedle pretreatment, CSFITC exhibited a more permeationinto skin in the formulation of hydrogel than in solution. This work demonstrates the feasibilityof microneedle-mediated transdermal delivery of chondroitin sulfate.