Hyaluronic acid dissolving microneedle patch loaded with tranexamic acid for melasma treatment

Cai Zhang; Xuejiao Song; Chuan Ma; Minjia Wang; Hui Deng; Miaomiao Yuan; Wuyou Zhu; Lingyue Shen; Yuzhen Li; Leilei Shi

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132255

Hyaluronic acid dissolving microneedle patch loaded with tranexamic acid for melasma treatment

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 May 8;270(Pt 2):132255. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132255. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Cai Zhang¹, Xuejiao Song¹, Chuan Ma², Minjia Wang¹, Hui Deng³, Miaomiao Yuan⁴, Wuyou Zhu⁵, Lingyue Shen⁶, Yuzhen Li⁷, Leilei Shi⁸

Affiliations

¹ The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China.
³ Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: hdeng@sjtu.edu.cn.
⁴ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases in Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
⁵ Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Department of Oral & Maxillofacial-Head & Neck Oncology, Department of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: sharyshen@hotmail.com.
⁷ The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: liyzh56@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
⁸ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases in Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: leilei.shi@shgh.cn.

PMID: 38729504
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132255

Abstract

Melasma is an acquired hypermelanotic condition characterized by the presence of irregular light-to-dark brown macules that primarily manifest on the sun-exposed areas of the skin, particularly the face. The management of melasma poses significant challenges, as it is often recalcitrant to treatment and tends to recur despite successful treatment. In this study, we explored a safe, easy, and effective melasma treatment strategy. A hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microneedle (MN) patch loaded with tranexamic acid (TXA) was designed to deliver the necessary medication for melasma treatment. The MN patch features uniform needles with adequate mechanical strength and effective penetration and solubility in the skin without cytotoxicity. Remarkably, these MNs substantially reduce the thickness of the epidermis of melasma mice, curtail melanin production, and diminish dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) expression.

Keywords: Dissolving microneedle; Hyaluronic acid; Melanin; Melasma; Tranexamic acid.