Dissolving microneedle patch for transdermal delivery of perindopril erbumine

Perindopril Erbumine is a widely used angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor for managing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Its dual action of lowering blood pressure and mitigating inflammation makes it a cornerstone treatment in these conditions. However, its oral administration often results in suboptimal bioavailability and gastrointestinal side effects. This study aimed to develop and characterize a dissolving microneedle (dMN) patch for the transdermal delivery of Perindopril Erbumine to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. A Perindopril Erbumine-loaded microneedle patch was fabricated using chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using the solvent casting method. The microneedle patch was evaluated for physical properties, mechanical strength, drug loading, and moisture content. Ex-vivo permeation through rat skin and in-vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits was conducted to compare its performance with a marketed oral Perindopril Erbumine formulation. The developed patch demonstrated effective skin penetration, controlled drug release, and a six-fold enhancement in cumulative drug permeation (82.45% +/- 1.54) compared to the oral solution (14.32% +/- 1.60). The pharmacokinetic study revealed prolonged drug release, with a 7.9-fold increase in half-life (7.739 +/- 0.243 h vs. 0.986 +/- 0.93 h) and a significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) for the microneedle patch. Skin irritation studies confirmed the biocompatibility of the formulation, with no significant adverse effects observed. These findings highlight the potential of Perindopril Erbumine-loaded dissolving microneedles as a promising transdermal delivery system for improved therapeutic outcomes in managing hypertension and inflammation-related vascular conditions, potentially reducing inflammation through enhanced and targeted drug delivery.