Enhanced Topical Delivery of Methotrexate via Transferosome-Loaded Microneedle Array Patch: Formulation, Optimization, and In Vitro-In Vivo Assessment

Snehal Shinde; Anil Kumar Singh; Vijay R Chidrawar; Amarjitsing Rajput; Sudarshan Singh

doi:10.3390/ph18040594

Enhanced Topical Delivery of Methotrexate via Transferosome-Loaded Microneedle Array Patch: Formulation, Optimization, and In Vitro-In Vivo Assessment

Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Apr 18;18(4):594. doi: 10.3390/ph18040594.

Authors

Snehal Shinde¹, Anil Kumar Singh², Vijay R Chidrawar³, Amarjitsing Rajput¹, Sudarshan Singh^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Erandwane, Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India.
² United Institute of Pharmacy, Prayagraj 211010, Uttar Pradesh, India.
³ School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Deemed-to-University, Green Industrial Park, TSIIC, Mahbubnagar 509301, Telangana, India.
⁴ Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
⁵ Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

Abstract

Background: Conventional approaches in treating psoriasis demonstrate several complications. methotrexate (MTX) has been frequently used for its efficacy in managing moderate to severe psoriasis. However, MTX acts as an antagonist in regular dosage, which creates a patient compliance issue with undesirable consequences for patients, which necessitates development of an innovative approach to enhance skin permeation. Therefore, this study examines the improved topical administration of MTX utilizing a transferosome-loaded microneedle (MNs) array patch for the management of psoriasis. Methods: A design of experiment was used assess the effect of phospholipid content and edge activator type on vesicle size and entrapment efficiency (EE) to fabricate and optimize transferosome-loaded MTX. Furthermore, the MTX was incorporated within MNs and assessed for in vitro-ex vivo-in vivo parameters. Results: The morphology result revealed vesicles mean diameter of 169.4 ± 0.40 nm and EE of 69 ± 0.48 (%). Compared to traditional formulations (MTX patch and gel), the optimized transferosome-loaded dissolving MN array patch showed a substantial increase in diffusion of MTX tested over rat skin. Furthermore, an enhanced therapeutic benefit at the application site through cumulative drug release profiles suggested sustained release of MTX over 24 h. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed that the MN array patch exhibited higher accumulation, compared to conventional formulation tested. In addition, the plasma concentration measurements demonstrated a reduction in systemic exposure to MTX, diminishing the possibility of intricacy while preserving localized therapeutic efficacy. The capability of the MN array patch to lance the epidermal layers was proven by histological assessments. Conclusions: Thus, transferosome-loaded MNs is a viable method of delivering MTX topically with prolonged drug release and reduced systemic toxicity.

Keywords: design of experiment; dissolving microneedle; methotrexate; microneedle array patch; transferosomes.