Dissolving Microneedle Array Patches Containing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles of Different Pore Sizes as a Tunable Sustained Release Platform

This study introduces dissolving microneedle array patches (DMAPs) that incorporate mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with varying pore sizes to enhance drug delivery through the skin. The DMAPs, containing about 2.3 mg of MSN primarily in the microneedle tips, were tested in vitro, ex vivo on neonatal porcine skin, and in vivo on mice, confirming effective insertion and dissolution. The study found that matching pore size to the drug's molecular weight optimizes loading and release, with larger pores favoring faster release. The platform allows for tunable drug delivery and potential combination therapies by co-delivering different MSN formulations through a single DMAP. Future evaluations on human skin and larger animals are suggested to explore therapeutic applications.