Polyglycolic acid microneedles modified with inkjet-deposited antifungal coatings.
In this study, the authors examined use of piezoelectric inkjet printing to apply an antifungal agent, voriconazole, to the surfaces of biodegradable polyglycolic acid microneedles. Polyglycolic acid microneedles with sharp tips (average tip radius = 25 ± 3 μm) were prepared using a combination of injection molding and drawing lithography. The elastic modulus (9.9 ± 0.3 GPa) and hardness (588.2 ± 33.8 MPa) values of the polyglycolic acid material were determined using nanoindentation and were found to be suitable for use in transdermal drug delivery devices. Voriconazole was deposited onto the polyglycolic acid microneedles by means of piezoelectric inkjet printing. It should be noted that voriconazole has poor solubility in water; however, it is readily soluble in many organic solvents. Optical imaging, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized to examine the microneedle geometries and inkjet-deposited surface coatings. Furthermore, an in vitro agar plating study was performed on the unmodified, vehicle-modified, and voriconazole-modified microneedles. Unlike the unmodified and vehicle-modified microneedles, the voriconazole-modified microneedles showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The unmodified, vehicle-modified, and voriconazole-modified microneedles did not show activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Staphylococcus aureus. The results indicate that piezoelectric inkjet printing may be useful for loading transdermal drug delivery devices such as polyglycolic acid microneedles with antifungal pharmacologic agents and other pharmacologic agents with poor solubility in aqueous solutions.
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Box 7115, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
Ryan D
RD
Boehm
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1805 Research Park Drive, Fargo, North Dakota 58102.
Justin
J
Daniels
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1805 Research Park Drive, Fargo, North Dakota 58102.
Shane
S
Stafslien
Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 and Wake Research Associates, 3100 Duraleigh Rd. Ste. 304, Raleigh, North Carolina 27612.
Adnan
A
Nasir
Hysitron, Inc., 9625 West 76th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
Joe
J
Lefebvre
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Box 7115, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695.
Roger J
RJ
Narayan
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D013499:Surface Properties; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid