Dissolving Microneedle Transdermal Patch Loaded with Nanoliposomes of <i>Enicostemma littorale</i> for the Management of Type II Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes and presents a significant global health challenge, characterized by insulin resistance and a relative deficiency in insulin secretion. There is growing interest in exploring crude herbal extracts for diabetes management, particularly <i>Enicostemma littorale</i> (Chota Chirata), an Ayurvedic remedy from the Gentianaceae family. Encapsulating these extracts in nanocarriers has shown promise due to its enhanced bioavailability, targeted delivery, and sustained release. Nanoliposomes (NLs) are extensively studied for delivering <i>E. littorale</i> because of their structural versatility, biocompatibility, and nontoxic nature. To improve transdermal delivery, a dissolving microneedle (DMN) transdermal patch is used. These tiny needles penetrate the skin, bypass the stratum corneum, and enable painless drug delivery. In our study, the NLs were developed using Bangham's technique of thin film evaporation and were optimized using a design expert (Box-Behnken Design, BBD). The NLs were assessed for vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE), and zeta potential. The results indicated a vesicle size of 91.09 ± 3.45 nm, a PDI of 0.267 ± 0.06, an EE of 82.45 ± 2.45%, and a zeta potential of -25.19 ± 2.11 mV. <i>In vitro</i> release studies demonstrated a sustained-release pattern for the NL. <i>Ex vivo</i> studies confirmed successful skin permeation with 84.49 ± 1.14% of the formulation permeating through the skin. The MNs were successfully developed and evaluated, with the results indicating potential for further application. In conclusion, the EL-NL-loaded MN exhibited stability and promising <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> results, suggesting its suitability for continued research and development.