Rizatriptan benzoate-loaded dissolving microneedle patch for management of acute migraine

Abstract In this study, dissolving microneedles (MNs) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers (PVP-VA) as the matrix has been developed for transdermal delivery of rizatriptan benzoate (RB) for acute migraine treatment. In-vitro permeation studies were conducted to assess the feasibility of fabricating dissolving MNs to release RB. Franz diffusion cell tests showed higher transdermal flux with dissolving MNs compared to passive diffusion. This was due to the MNs' mechanical strength, enabling them to penetrate the skin and form microchannels.The in vivo pharmacological study demonstrated that dissolving microneedles (MNs) loaded with RB effectively reduced migraine-related symptoms. This was achieved by increasing the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and decreasing the levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP).In conclusion, the RB-loaded dissolving MNs offer several advantages compared to conventional administrations methods, including safety, convenience, and high efficacy. These findings provide a promising basis for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems for the treatment of acute