Zolmitriptan niosomal transdermal patches: combating migraine via epigenetic and endocannabinoid pathways and reversal of migraine hypercoagulability

Abstract Conventional zolmitriptan (ZOL) has limited oral bioavailability, many adverse effects, and poor membrane penetrability that negatively influences its accessibility to its 5-HT 1B/1D receptor binding pocket, located transmemberanous. This work aimed at preparing transdermal ZOL-nanoformulation (niosomes) to surpass these limitations and to explore novel antimigraine mechanisms for ZOL via modulation of the epigenetically-altered chronification genes (RAMP-1, NPTX-2) or microRNAs and affecting the endocannabinoid CB-1/MAPK pathway. The prepared ZOL niosomes (F sp60/6−1:1 ) exhibited %EE of 57.28%, PS of 472.3 nm, PDI of 0.366, and ZP of -26 mV were cast into patch with content uniformity of 93.12%, maintained endurance after 200-times folding, no interaction between its components (FT-IR), a biphasic release pattern and good stability after storage at 4 °C for 6 months. In-vivo ZOL-patch application in rats with nitroglycerin-induced migraine showed significant management of migraine pain symptoms and photophobia assessed behaviorally, decreased brain levels of the trigeminal neuronal activation marker (c-fos), the migraine pain neurotransmitter (CGRP) and the serum levels of different migraine pain markers (substance P, nitric-oxide, and TNF-α). It also significantly decreased RAMP-1, NPTX-2, miR-382-5p, and CB-1/MAPK gene expression reflecting improved efficacy and brain receptors delivery to a much greater extent than conventional ZOL has done. Additionally, this nanoformulation significantly opposed migraine-induced platelet activation and hypercoagulable status in both central and peripheral circulations as evidenced by the significant decrease in adenosine diphosphate, thrombin, factor X, CD41, and Von-Willebrand factor levels assessed peripherally and centrally. TPF sp60/6−1:1 significantly improved ZOL efficacy and accessibility to brain-receptors to a much greater extent than conventional ZOL-solution. KeywordsEndocannabinoid receptors; Epigenetically-altered genes; Hemostatic pathways; Niosomal patch; Transdermal; Zolmitriptan Graphical abstract