Printing amphotericin B on microneedles using matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation

Abstract

Transdermal delivery of amphotericin B, a pharmacologic agent with activity against fungi and parasitic protozoa, is a challenge since amphotericin B exhibits poor solubility in aqueous solutions at physiologic pH values. In this study, we have used a laser-based printing approach known as matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation to print amphotericin B on the surfaces of polyglycolic acid microneedles that were prepared using a combination of injection molding and drawing lithography. In a modified agar disk diffusion assay, the amphotericin B-loaded microneedles showed concentration-dependent activity against the yeast Candida albicans. The results of this study suggest that matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation may be used to print amphotericin B and other drugs that with complex solubility issues on the surfaces of microneedles.