Anti-Nociceptive Effect of Sufentanil Polymeric Dissolving Microneedle on Male Mice by Hot Plate Technique

Authors
Zeinab Pourmansouri 1
Atefeh Malekkhatabi 2
Maryam Toolabi 3
Mahsa Akbari 4
Mohammad Ali Shahbazi 4
Ali Rostami* 1
1 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 3. Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, the Netherlands
10.61186/ibj.4062
Abstract
Background: Despite the widespread use of opioids to manage severe pain, its systemic administration results in side effects. Among the subcutaneous and transdermal drug delivery systems developed to deal with adverse effects, microneedles have drawn attention due to their rapid action, high drug bioavailability, and improved permeability. Sufentanil (SUF) is an effective injectable opioid for treating severe pain. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of SUF using dissolvable microneedles.

Methods: SUF polymeric dissolvable microneedles were constructed through the mold casting method and characterized by SEM and FTIR analysis. Its mechanical strength was also investigated using a texture analyzer. Fluorescence microscopy was applied in vitro to measure the penetration depth of microneedle arrays. Irritation and microchannel closure time, drug release profile, and hemocompatibility test were conducted for the validation of microneedle efficiency. Hot plate test was also used to investigate the analgesic effect of microneedle in an animal model.

Results: Local administration of SUF via dissolving microneedles had an effective analgesic impact. One hour after administration, there was no significant difference between the subcutaneous and the microneedle groups, and the mechanical properties were within acceptable limits.

Conclusion: Microneedling is an effective strategy in immediate pain relief compared to the traditional methods.
Keywords
Mice
Pain Management
Sufentanil