Development and Evaluation of Biodegradable Microneedle Patches for Sustained Release of Ondansetron: A Novel Approach to Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea Management"

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy and it affects 70% of the patients. This nausea and vomiting process involves multiple pathways like peripheral signals mediated by serotonin and neurokinin neurotransmitters and cortical pathways involves dopamine and histamine neurotransmitters to activate the chemoreceptor zone. Both the pathways transmit signals for salivation, vasomotor response, respiration and ultimately transmit signals to cranial centres that control vomiting reflex. Nowadays multiple and effective treatment options are available for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In the present study, the Ondansetron HCL drug was selected for the treatment due to its superiority in decreasing nausea and vomiting at the time of use of anticancer regimen. It’s a class of drugs that works by blocking the action of serotonin. In recent work, dissolvable microneedle patches were prepared it’s a transdermal drug delivery system that bypasses the challenges encountered by another delivery system. Microneedles are the projections capable of penetrating the epidermis and reaching the upper dermis without contacting nerve fibres or blood vessels so it’s a painless drug delivery system. Microneedles has many advanatges like large molecular drugs can be administered, first-pass metabolism is avoided, faster healing than hypodermic needles can be obtained, no fear of needles, controlled drug delivery, sustained drug delivery, targeted drug delivery can be obtained, ease of administration and decreased microbial penetration in the skin. The dissolvable microneedle patches were prepared by the moulding method by taking PVA: PVP as a dissolvable polymer (5: 0.25%) and Hyaluronic acid (50mg) as a polymer and permeation enhancer, all are biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic and non-immunogenic polymer with high water affinity. The medium molecular weight of Hyaluronic acid provides sustained release action for 24 hours. After dissolvable microneedle patches were formulated it evaluated for physical structure analysis, mechanical strength, % drug entrapment, % moisture content, % moisture absorption, thickness, adhesiveness properties, weight variation, folding endurance, tensile strength, swelling index, and peel adhesion. All the results confirmed the successful development of dissolvable microneedle transdermal patches for sustained delivery of Ondansetron HCL for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.