Dextran-modified dissolving microneedle patches for effective amelioration of psoriasis through transdermal delivery of hesperidin.

Psoriasis is a chronic, multifactorial, proliferative inflammatory skin disease characterized by immune-mediated relapsing and remitting phases. Topical treatments for mild to moderate psoriasis, as well as systemic treatments for severe cases, can be insufficiently effective and are often associated with significant side effects. The primary objective of this study was to develop a dissolvable microneedle patch containing the flavonoid hesperidin within a polymeric matrix composed of dextran modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) aiming to achieve effective control of psoriasis symptoms. The innovative laser ablation technique used in master mold fabrication resulted in well-structured pyramidal arrays, as evidenced by SEM images of the microneedle patches (MNPs). Various formulations were developed in which almost complete dissolving of the needle occured only 30 s. MNP containing PVP 150 mg, PVA 75 mg and Dextran 50 mg, with the highest compressive failure force, was able to sink into the skin well. Over 70 % of hesperidin was released within approximately 15 h from the dissolved MNs into skin. Animal studies were conducted using an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model. PASI score or cumulative amount of three parameters; desquamation or scaling, erythema, and induration or thickness for each group on experimental days 1 to 7 were studied. Significant clinical improvement on PASI scores, was observed in the group treated with hesperidin-loaded optimal MNP (1.67 ± 0.47) compared to the positive control (11.67 ± 0.47) and the oral hesperidin groups (6.00 ± 0.82). The results of this study indicate that dextran modified MNPs of hesperidin can reduce epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration, demonstrating an effective method for transdermal drug delivery.