Innovative dissolving microneedles for enhanced delivery of alpha arbutin and ascorbic acid: a novel LC–MS quantification approach

Abstract

This study presents a novel dissolving microneedles (MN) formulation designed to deliver alpha arbutin (AA) and ascorbic acid for hyperpigmentation treatment. Utilizing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K90), we successfully prepared and characterized MN arrays with high drug loading efficiencies of 89.01% for AA and 94.09% for ascorbic acid. A pioneering liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS) technique was developed for simultaneous drug quantification, achieving precision and accuracy as per FDA guidelines. Our MN demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, with effective skin penetration and dissolution within 5 minutes and permeation rates of 4.28% h⁻¹ for AA and 3.61% h⁻¹ for ascorbic acid. This innovative approach offers a promising platform for the transdermal delivery of active compounds, highlighting significant advancements in drug delivery technology.