Improving the transdermal delivery of vitamin C by 3D-printed microneedle particles for alleviating skin photodamage

Skin photodamage is a common disease that can cause various skin problems, and vitamin C is frequently used as an antioxidant to protect the skin from photodamage. However, vitamin C is a charged and hydrophilic molecule, which decreases skin permeability. In this study, we developed a type of microneedle particles (MNPs) to enhance topical vitamin C delivery. The MNPs are millimeter-sized particles with micron-sized needle-like structures that can be rapidly and accurately fabricated through a digital light processing (DLP)-based micro-printing process. The mechanical properties of these MNPs are reliable for forming micropores across the stratum corneum in a painless manner. Following a topical application to the dorsal skin of mice, the MNPs increased the permeability of medications. The effectiveness of vitamin C in mitigating skin photodamage is significantly improved. In conclusion, this study presents micro-printing of MNPs for transdermal vitamin C delivery, which has potential applications in future treatment of skin photodamage.