Abstract
Clopidogrel is widely used for stroke prevention, but its oral administration is limited by poor patient adherence, gastrointestinal irritation, and hepatic first-pass metabolism. To address these limitations, we developed a biodegradable microneedle patch composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for the transdermal delivery of clopidogrel. The patch exhibited sufficient mechanical strength to penetrate the skin simulant and fully dissolve within 6 h. Drug release was sustained over 48 h in vitro, and platelet aggregation was evaluated using a simulated human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) model. Compared to clopidogrel solution, the microneedle patch maintained longer antiplatelet activity, with significant inhibition observed up to 72 h. These findings suggest that dissolvable microneedle patches may serve as a non-invasive and sustained delivery strategy for clopidogrel, potentially improving therapeutic consistency and patient compliance in stroke prophylaxis.
Keywords: Microneedle patch; clopidogrel; transdermal drug delivery; stroke prevention therapy