Sustained Release of αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA[1,2] via Hydrogel Microneedle Patch for Chronic Neuropathic Pain Management

Abstract

Chronic neuropathic pain severely impairs quality of life, with current therapies often causing adverse effects. Our research group identified αO-conotoxin GeXIVA[1,2] as a potent analgesic candidate derived from marine cone snails. However, its clinical application is limited by rapid clearance and complex administration. This study developed a sustained-release hydrogel microneedle patch encapsulating GeXIVA[1,2] to address these challenges. Optimized 4:3 (w/w) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–sucrose hydrogel formulation achieved 98.6% structural integrity and controlled swelling (ratio = 1.9 at 48 h). The microneedles demonstrated uniform conical morphology (height: 889 ± 49 µm, base: 381 ± 26 µm) enabling epidermal penetration. In spared nerve injury (SNI) models, a single microneedle patch application increased mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds from 0.056 g to 0.7269 g, maintaining efficacy for 3 days. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) models showed comparable pain relief. Notably, microneedle patch treatment improved locomotor function in SNI mice (total movement: 1518 cm vs. 1126 cm untreated). This hydrogel microneedle patch platform extends GeXIVA[1,2]’s analgesic duration from hours to days through sustained release, while resolving administration challenges through transdermal delivery, expanding the potential applications of GeXIVA[1,2], and demonstrating a promising strategy for the chronic neuropathic pain management.