| Autor: |
Ulloa Rojas JE; Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil., Oliveira VL; Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil., de Araujo DR; Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil., Tofoli GR; São Leopoldo Mandic Faculty, São Leopoldo Mandic Research Institute, Campinas, 01332-000 São Paulo, Brazil., de Oliveira MM; Center for Engineering Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil., Carastan DJ; Center for Engineering Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil., Palaci M; Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, 29075-910 ES, Brazil., Giuntini F; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Byrom Street Campus, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, U.K., Alves WA; Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 SP, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment in which a combination of a photosensitizing drug and visible light produces highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to cell death. One of the main drawbacks of PDT for topical treatments is the limited skin penetration of some photosensitizers commonly used in this therapy. In this study, we propose the use of polymeric microneedles (MNs) prepared from silk fibroin and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to increase the penetration efficiency of porphyrin as possible applications in photodynamic therapy. The microneedle arrays were fabricated from mixtures in different proportions (1:0, 7:3, 1:1, 3:7, and 0:1) of silk fibroin and PVA solutions (7%); the polymer solutions were cast in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds and dried overnight. Patches containing grids of 10 × 10 microneedles with a square-based pyramidal shape were successfully produced through this approach. The polymer microneedle arrays showed good mechanical strength under compression force and sufficient insertion depth in both Parafilm M and excised porcine skin at different application forces (5, 20, 30, and 40 N) using a commercial applicator. We observe an increase in the cumulative permeation of 5-[4-(2-carboxyethanoyl) aminophenyl]-10,15,20-tris-(4-sulphonatophenyl) porphyrin trisodium through porcine skin treated with the polymer microneedles after 24 h. MNs may be a promising carrier for the transdermal delivery of photosensitizers for PDT, improving the permeation of photosensitizer molecules through the skin, thus improving the efficiency of this therapy for topical applications. |
