Particle Size Effect of Curcumin Nanocrystals on Transdermal and Transfollicular Penetration by Hyaluronic Acid-Dissolving Microneedle Delivery

The study investigated the impact of curcumin nanocrystals (CUR-NCs) particle size on transdermal and transfollicular penetration using a hyaluronic acid-dissolving microneedle delivery system. Three sizes of CUR-NCs (60 nm, 120 nm, and 480 nm) were used. Results showed that smaller CUR-NCs (60 nm) penetrated the skin and hair follicles more effectively than larger ones. The cumulative curcumin released from the microneedles was about two-fold higher than that of a curcumin gel after 48 hours. The study concluded that microneedles can effectively deliver hydrophobic drugs in a nanocrystal formulation, overcoming the skin barrier and delivering nanocrystals directly into the skin, forming multi-nanodrug reservoirs.