Breaking Corneal Barriers: GelMA-Based Hybrid Microneedles for Enhanced Intrastromal Drug Delivery

Introduction: The unique anatomical and physiological barriers of the cornea significantly limit drug permeability and result in low bioavailability following topical application. While intrastromal injections achieve high drug concentrations at the target site, they are painful and risky interventions [1]. There is a clear need for localized, efficient corneal drug delivery with improved patient compliance. This study introduces hybrid microneedles (MNs), fabricated from gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based hydrogels, as a safe and effective approach to enhance intrastromal drug delivery.

Mohammadali Ashraf – Postdoctoral Researcher, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago; Amirreza Ghaznavi – PhD Candidate, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago; Hajirah Saeed – Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago; Jie Xu – Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago; Richard Gemeinhart – Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago