Enhancing dermal delivery of tocotrienol via nanoemulsion and microneedles: Is two better than one ?

Choon Fu Goh, PhD. – Associate Professor, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia; Keng Wooi Ng, PhD. – Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University; Ju Yen Fu, PhD. – Senior Research Officer, Product Development and Advisory Services Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board; Gong Tao Ding, PhD. – Associate Professor, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University

Poster Presenter(s)

Jing Yi Estee Lee

PhD student
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Penang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Introduction:

Palm tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and UV-protective properties that confer significant dermal benefits. Although nanoemulsions (NE) may enhance TRF loading, skin permeation of NE remains limited due to high lipophilicity of TRF. Bypassing the skin barrier, dissolving microneedles (DMN) may provide synergistic enhancement beyond either strategy alone. Therefore, this study aims to enhance TRF dermal delivery by encapsulating TRF NE within a hydrophilic polymeric DMN matrix.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the effect of MF fabrication parameters (FR and OWR) on the formation of TRF NE
Explore the enhanced dermal delivery of highly lipophilic TRF by integrating NE with DMN
Compare the skin permeation profiles of NE-DMN with different polymer mass content and ratio