Mission impossible: Dermal delivery of growth factors via microneedling

Abstract

The clinical application of transdermal delivery has been limited to lipophilic drugs with a molecular weight of less than 500 Da. The development of polymeric microneedles enabled the transdermal delivery of larger proteins and drugs. Extensive research has been conducted on the molecular size, solubility, pH, concentration, and polarity of transdermal delivery; however, the maximal molecular weight for transdermal microneedle delivery has not been established. Clinicians often use simple microneedles to deliver high molecular weight growth factors of platelet‐rich plasma across the skin; thus, we set out to explore the feasibility of delivering growth factors through microneedling. In this communication, we present histological evidence that microneedling do not enhance transdermal delivery of growth factors and thus provide no clinical benefit.

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“…They conclude that topical PRP applied with microneedling cannot exert a beneficial physiological effect. 13 These data are in contrast with previous and equally recent publications,in which microneedling was successfully used to deliver drugs, genes, proteins, RNA, hormones and vaccines, that are considerably much heavier than our mixture. Transdermal administration is considered noninvasive of course, can be selfpracticed, avoids first-pass metabolism, so in these papers is highly indicated to administer even high molecular weight molecules.…”

Platelet-rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia

“…Dhurat et al . [ 43 ] chose a 1 × 1 cm area of skin and performed a dermaroller treatment (1.5 mm). They rolled 20 times and then massaged the dye over the skin.…”

Response to “Microneedling with autologous platelet-rich plasma versus microneedling with topical insulin in the treatment of postacne atrophic scars: A simultaneous split-face comparative study”

“…In a previous study, ''rubbing'' black ink after microneedling did not achieve dermal delivery in a proof-of-concept experiment because topical penetration beyond the corneal layer does not occur with molecules larger than 500 Da. 2 Insulin weighs over 5000 Da; therefore, the size of the molecule prevents dermal absorption. The millenary needling technique intentionally developed to deliver liquids rich in color pigments to the dermis is called the tattooing technique, and sterile suspensions and solutions may be delivered with a tattoo machine using the right technique.…”

“…4 When dry needles are used during microneedling, the after-procedure pressure gradient does not allow the dermal delivery of liquids to previously made injury columns. 2 Otherwise, while exposed to normal air pressure, pinpoint bleeding would flow back from the epidermis to the dermis. Tattooing versus microneedling.…”

“…However, this might be an impossible mission. 2 Drug tattooing is a new concept, and double-blinded, sham-controlled studies need to be carried out to further substantiate the efficacy of this technique. We look forward to attempting the use of fast-acting insulin to verify its effects as another inexpensive sterile injectable drug of easy access worldwide in the armamentarium of drug tattooing.…”