Glucose-responsive hydrogel-based microneedles containing phenylborate ester bonds and N-isopropylacrylamide moieties and their transdermal drug delivery properties

Abstract Microneedles with self-regulated drug releasing behaviors are desirable and promising to improve the treatment quality of diabetics. Here, we fabricate a phenylboronic acid-based hydrogel microneedle patch (MNP) with glucose responsiveness and excellent biocompatibility for drug delivery at 37 °C. In this hydrogel-based MNP, the glucose-responsive properties are realized by introducing reversible phenylborate ester crosslinking points based on phenylboronic acid units and diol-containing units. The reversible crosslinking points also improve the mechanical strength for skin insertion. This novel phenylboronic acid-based hydrogel MNP lays the foundation for fabrication of a sensitive, safe and stable transdermal drug delivery system.