Research Article

Transdermal delivery of methotrexate for pediatrics using silicon microneedles

Mehtab J Abla

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

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Ayyappa Chaturvedula

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

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Conor O’Mahony

Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

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Ajay K Banga

* Author for correspondence

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.

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Email the corresponding author at banga_ak@mercer.edu

Published Online:7 May 2013https://doi.org/10.4155/tde.13.24

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Abstract

Background: The objective of this work was to study transdermal delivery of methotrexate using silicon microneedles and simulate plasma concentrations using a population pharmacokinetic model. Results: Characterization of silicon microneedles was carried out by scanning electron microscopy, transepidermal water loss, methylene blue staining, calcein imaging, pore permeability index and confocal microscopy, which confirmed the formation of microchannels. In vitro permeation studies were performed to study the enhancement in transdermal delivery following microporation. Conclusion: Simulation data demonstrated that with 16, 64, 128 and 192 microneedles, mean plasma concentrations of 0.3, 1.4, 2.8 and 4.2 ng/ml, respectively, can be achieved. Thus, therapeutically relevant doses could be delivered in pediatrics by increasing the number of microneedles and patch area.

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Vol. 4, No. 5

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Published online 7 May 2013

Published in print May 2013

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank A Herwadkar and M Gujjar for proof reading the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was partially supported by Enterprise Ireland through the Commercialisation Fund, and by the Integrated NanoScience Platform for Ireland. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

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