Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections

Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) present significant treatment challenges. These infections often require systemic antibiotics such as vancomycin, which poses a risk for increased bacterial resistance. Topical treatments are hindered by the barrier function of the skin, and micron...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juhaina M. Abu Ershaid, Han Zhang, May Tayyem, Akmal H. Sabri, Ryan F. Donnelly, Lalitkumar K. Vora
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/11/316
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850068732892676096
author Juhaina M. Abu Ershaid
Han Zhang
May Tayyem
Akmal H. Sabri
Ryan F. Donnelly
Lalitkumar K. Vora
author_facet Juhaina M. Abu Ershaid
Han Zhang
May Tayyem
Akmal H. Sabri
Ryan F. Donnelly
Lalitkumar K. Vora
author_sort Juhaina M. Abu Ershaid
collection DOAJ
description Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) present significant treatment challenges. These infections often require systemic antibiotics such as vancomycin, which poses a risk for increased bacterial resistance. Topical treatments are hindered by the barrier function of the skin, and microneedles (MNs) offer a promising solution, increasing patient compliance and negating the need for traditional needles. Methods: This study focused on the use of sodium alginate MNs for vancomycin delivery directly to the site of infection via a cost-effective micromolding technique. Dissolving polymeric MNs made of sodium alginate and loaded with vancomycin were fabricated and evaluated in terms of their physical properties, delivery ability, and antimicrobial activity. Results: The MNs achieved a 378 μm depth of insertion into ex vivo skin and a 5.0 ± 0 mm zone of inhibition in agar disc diffusion assays. Furthermore, in ex vivo Franz cell experiments, the MNs delivered 34.46 ± 11.31 μg of vancomycin with around 35% efficiency, with 9.88 ± 0.57 μg deposited in the skin after 24 h. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sodium alginate MNs are a viable platform for antimicrobial agent delivery in SSTIs. Future in vivo studies are essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this innovative method for clinical use.
format Article
id doaj-art-e9eb1e9014db4e7ead6e89a2b9496495
institution DOAJ
issn 2079-4983
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Functional Biomaterials
spelling doaj-art-e9eb1e9014db4e7ead6e89a2b94964952025-08-20T02:47:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832024-10-01151131610.3390/jfb15110316Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin InfectionsJuhaina M. Abu Ershaid0Han Zhang1May Tayyem2Akmal H. Sabri3Ryan F. Donnelly4Lalitkumar K. Vora5School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UKSchool of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UKSchool of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetics, Middle East University, Airport Road, Amman 11831, JordanSchool of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UKSchool of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UKSchool of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UKBackground: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) present significant treatment challenges. These infections often require systemic antibiotics such as vancomycin, which poses a risk for increased bacterial resistance. Topical treatments are hindered by the barrier function of the skin, and microneedles (MNs) offer a promising solution, increasing patient compliance and negating the need for traditional needles. Methods: This study focused on the use of sodium alginate MNs for vancomycin delivery directly to the site of infection via a cost-effective micromolding technique. Dissolving polymeric MNs made of sodium alginate and loaded with vancomycin were fabricated and evaluated in terms of their physical properties, delivery ability, and antimicrobial activity. Results: The MNs achieved a 378 μm depth of insertion into ex vivo skin and a 5.0 ± 0 mm zone of inhibition in agar disc diffusion assays. Furthermore, in ex vivo Franz cell experiments, the MNs delivered 34.46 ± 11.31 μg of vancomycin with around 35% efficiency, with 9.88 ± 0.57 μg deposited in the skin after 24 h. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sodium alginate MNs are a viable platform for antimicrobial agent delivery in SSTIs. Future in vivo studies are essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this innovative method for clinical use.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/11/316microneedlesvancomycinsodium alginateMRSAskin infections
spellingShingle Juhaina M. Abu Ershaid
Han Zhang
May Tayyem
Akmal H. Sabri
Ryan F. Donnelly
Lalitkumar K. Vora
Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
microneedles
vancomycin
sodium alginate
MRSA
skin infections
title Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
title_full Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
title_fullStr Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
title_full_unstemmed Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
title_short Sodium Alginate Microneedles Loaded with Vancomycin for Skin Infections
title_sort sodium alginate microneedles loaded with vancomycin for skin infections
topic microneedles
vancomycin
sodium alginate
MRSA
skin infections
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/11/316
work_keys_str_mv AT juhainamabuershaid sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections
AT hanzhang sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections
AT maytayyem sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections
AT akmalhsabri sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections
AT ryanfdonnelly sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections
AT lalitkumarkvora sodiumalginatemicroneedlesloadedwithvancomycinforskininfections