Baricitinib-Loaded Separable Microneedle Array Patch Based on Hyaluronic Acid for Alopecia Areata Therapy

The study presents a novel separable microneedle array patch (S-MAP) based on hyaluronic acid for the topical delivery of baricitinib to treat alopecia areata (AA). This method aims to avoid the systemic side effects of oral administration and offers a pain-free alternative to typical intradermal injections. The baricitinib-loaded S-MAP demonstrated effective insertion in porcine and mouse skin, with significantly higher hair growth in mouse models compared to the control group (68% vs 33%, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the baricitinib S-MAP system is an efficient and safe option for AA therapy, allowing for self-medication without pain.