New Emulsion Method Makes Microneedle Patches for Peptide Drug Delivery in One Step
A direct emulsion-based PLGA microneedle fabrication strategy maintained peptide bioactivity, achieved high loading, and demonstrated sustained 72-hour transdermal release in vivo.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Direct W/O emulsion-based PLGA microneedle fabrication maintained peptide bioactivity during manufacturing and storage, achieved high loading and uniform geometry, and demonstrated sustained 72-hour transdermal release in vivo.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Development of W/O emulsion-based peptide encapsulation in PLGA microneedles with characterization of geometry, drug loading, mechanical properties, peptide stability, and in vivo skin insertion and release studies.
Why This Research Matters
Microneedle patches could replace injections for peptide drugs. Solving the fabrication stability problem removes a key barrier to commercialization.
The Bigger Picture
Microneedle patches for peptide drugs could transform drug delivery: painless, self-applicable, and sustained-release — the ideal patient experience.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single peptide tested. In vivo bioavailability vs injection not compared. Manufacturing scale-up needs validation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could this fabrication method work for GLP-1 or insulin delivery?
- ?How does 72-hour release compare to daily oral or weekly injection regimens?
- ?Would patients prefer microneedle patches over auto-injectors?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 72-hour sustained release PLGA microneedle patches delivered active peptide through the skin for 3 days after a single painless application
- Evidence Grade:
- Proof-of-concept with in vitro characterization and in vivo release validation. Novel fabrication method.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- An Emulsion-Based Microneedle Formulation for Transdermal Delivery of Peptide Therapeutics.
- Published In:
- ACS biomaterials science & engineering, 12(2), 986-995 (2026)
- Authors:
- Hasan, Reaid, Guo, Yuhan, Zhao, Zhen(2), Li, Yongren, Mamani, Umar-Farouk, Cheng, Kun
- Database ID:
- RPEP-15268
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What are microneedle patches?
Tiny dissolvable needles on a patch that painlessly penetrate the top layer of skin and release medicine over hours to days. They could replace injections for peptide drugs.
Why is this fabrication method special?
Previous methods damaged peptides during the needle-making process. This one-step emulsion approach keeps peptides intact and active while loading them efficiently into the microneedles.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Related articles coming soon.
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-15268APA
Hasan, Reaid; Guo, Yuhan; Zhao, Zhen; Li, Yongren; Mamani, Umar-Farouk; Cheng, Kun. (2026). An Emulsion-Based Microneedle Formulation for Transdermal Delivery of Peptide Therapeutics.. ACS biomaterials science & engineering, 12(2), 986-995. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5c01566
MLA
Hasan, Reaid, et al. "An Emulsion-Based Microneedle Formulation for Transdermal Delivery of Peptide Therapeutics.." ACS biomaterials science & engineering, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5c01566
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "An Emulsion-Based Microneedle Formulation for Transdermal De..." RPEP-15268. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/hasan-2026-an-emulsionbased-microneedle-formulation
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.