Transdermal delivery of timolol maleate using hydrogel microneedles for the treatment of infantile haemangiomas

Infantile haemangioma (IH), the most prevalent vascular tumour in infants, requires early intervention because of the potential complications in critical areas such as the head and face. Current treatments, including topical timolol maleate (TIM), face challenges such as poor compliance, low drug utilisation, and lengthy treatment durations. In this study, we developed a hydrogel microneedle (MN) using photocurable bovine serum albumin methacryloyl (BSAMA) as a carrier for TIM. Our results showed the controlled release of TIM from BSAMA-TIM MNs, with approximately 69 % release ratio within 72 h. <i>In-vivo</i> studies on nude mice demonstrated that BSAMA-TIM-MNs inhibited the growth of haemangioma xenografts. Our TIM-delivering MNs exhibited high therapeutic efficacy, minimal cytotoxicity, and reduced dosing frequency. In conclusion, BSAMA-TIM MNs provide a promising strategy for treating IH.