Polyvinylpyrrolidone based graphene oxide hydrogels by radiation crosslinking for conductive microneedle patches

A smart drug delivery system is a system that delivers drugs to a specific site and/or target. Among the many types of systems, microneedle patches are effective drug delivery systems that directly deliver drugs to specific sites and/or targets to prevent skin aging and/or treat pain (e.g., headache, abdominal pain, muscle pain, etc.). However, the conventional microneedle patch has the disadvantages of weak mechanical properties and low drug release efficiency. In this study, we developed novel conductive stimuli microneedle patches for a smart drug delivery system using the gamma-ray crosslinking technique. The biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) based microneedle patch was prepared using gamma rays to compensate for the weak mechanical properties. In addition, the PVP-polysaccharide (PVPS) was blended with graphene oxide (GO) to optimize the drug delivery efficiency by electrical stimulation. The PVPS/GO microneedle patch has sufficient strength and flexibility without breaking or bending the needles even after penetrating deep into the skin. The drug-release efficiency of the PVPS/GO microneedle patch was increased by more than 2 times compared to the PVPS microneedle patch (without applying electricity) when 5 V was applied. Furthermore, it is possible to control the drug delivery rate according to the strength of the electrical stimulation. The PVPS/GO microneedle patch can be used for smart drug-delivery.