Open AccessPeptide delivery with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate microneedles through swelling effect
Author(s) -
Liu Shiying,
Yeo David C.,
Wiraja Christian,
Tey Hong Liang,
Mrksich Milan,
Xu Chenjie
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bioengineering and translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2380-6761
DOI - 10.1002/btm2.10070
Subject(s) - transdermal , ethylene glycol , materials science , peptide , polyethylene glycol , biocompatibility , self healing hydrogels , drug delivery , biomolecule , swelling , pegylation , nanotechnology , chemistry , polymer chemistry , pharmacology , organic chemistry , biochemistry , composite material , medicine , metallurgy
Transdermal delivery of therapeutic biomolecules (including peptides) can avoid enzymatic digestion that occurs in the oral route. (Polyethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)‐based microneedles, with good biocompatibility, are easily fabricated through photo‐polymerization with a precisely controlled structure. It has successfully been used for the transdermal delivery of small molecule drugs such as 5‐fluorouracil. However, the delivery of peptide‐based therapeutics using this platform is seldom reported. This is because of the potential damage to the peptide during the photo‐polymerization process of PEGDA. Herein, we introduce a method to load PEGDA microneedles with peptides without compromising peptide potency. Using gap junction inhibitor (Gap 26) as an example, the peptide was loaded into PEGDA microneedles through the swelling effect of PEGDA in the aqueous solution. The peptide‐loaded microneedles were applied to a keloid scar model and exhibited inhibition expression of collagen I, a predominant marker of keloid scar, demonstrating its potential therapeutic effects.