Manuka Honey Microneedle: Methods and Uses

Applications

• Microneedle synthesis method and material using a material that has medicinal properties, is already FDA-approved for use in wound care, and may serve as a drug delivery substrate
• The methods described in this patent enable the synthesis of up to 100% pure honey microneedles, while still maintaining their natural chemical and enzymatic properties; unless other sugar-based microneedles that utilize high heat. This method of microneedle formation can also be used to form the microneedles with the drug or protein of interest mixed in as a solution, as the process for microneedle synthesis is gentle and is less likely to damage or degrade proteins and other chemicals. This is especially valuable when delivering delicate cargo, such as RNA- or DNA-based therapeutics
• Using honey as the microneedle base, which is well known to have antibacterial and wound-healing properties, can be used on its’ own for wound management or can be used as a drug delivery tool, where the site of drug delivery is also promoted to heal and has low chance of pathogen infection
• Additionally, the honey itself may serve as a natural adjuvant, being an immunostimulant combined with the physical stimulation of microneedling. Promoting uptake of the drug delivery package.
• Another potential use for this is in dermatology, for the promotion of collagen formation through microneedling while using honey to prevent infection and promote short-acting local inflammation, promoting blood flow and tissue regeneration – such as for scar reduction or reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Problem Addressed

• Synthesis of sugar-based microneedles typically require high-temperature conditions which may restrict the ability to drug load specific target within the microneedle itself
• Microneedles penetrate the skin and result in a defect in the epithelial barrier, increasing the potential risk of acquiring an infection at the site of microneedle penetration
• Manuka Honey is an FDA-approved product for the treatment of complex wounds and has natural antibiotic and antifungal properties; however, the only current methods to apply the honey to wounds is through a gel/cream or on a bandage, which only reaches the superficial portion of the wound and may not reach deeper infections, such as cellulitis.

Advantages

• Methods for the synthesis of MHMs which retains the enzymatic and chemical characteristics of the honey
• The method of MHM synthesis is gentle enough to enable the loading of other drugs into the microneedle base itself, without an additional coating step
• The MHMs combine two FDA-approved techniques: microneedling and Medical Grade Manuka Honey
• MHMs can be a combined device and therapeutic and may be a way to administer sensitive drug loads, vaccines, or treat complicated infections – such as those with antibiotic resistant bacteria or fungal infections.

Publications

Galit H. Frydman, et al. Manuka honey microneedles for enhanced wound healing and the prevention and/or treatment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus. Nature. 2020 August 6. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70186-9