Compositions for glucose-responsive drug delivery systems via multifunctional hydrogel-based microneedle

A matrix microneedle patch device for monitoring and/or treating high blood sugar or preventing low blood sugar, comprising:

• a base;
• an array of microneedles extending from, and away, from said base, each microneedle of said array and said base being made of a crosslinked mixture of a first fraction of natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones having catechol containing molecules conjugated thereto and a second fraction of natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones and glucose-sensing molecules containing glucose-responsive moieties conjugated thereto, the first and second fractions being crosslinked via catechol-catechol crosslinkages and catechol-glucose-sensing molecules crosslinkages in an absence of chemical crosslinking agents;
• and
• blood glucose-reducing agents entrapped within the crosslinked polymeric backbones or blood glucose-raising agents non covalently bonded to catechol moieties in the catechol containing molecules.

A matrix microneedle patch device having contained therein a composition for treating high blood sugar or preventing low blood sugar, comprising:

• a microneedle patch with a base;
• an array of microneedles extending from and away from said base;
• blood glucose-raising agents or blood glucose-reducing agents loaded into the patch;
• each microneedle of said array and said base being made of a mixture of natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones;
• catechol containing molecules covalently conjugated to the natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones, wherein, the catechol is either covalently or non-covalently coupled to one another that form crosslinkages between the polymeric backbones;
• glucose-sensing molecules containing glucose-responsive moieties covalently conjugated to the natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones that interact with catechol containing molecules, wherein the glucose-responsive moieties reversibly interact or dissociate with the catechol containing molecules in response of the concentration of a diol-containing compound;
• and
• wherein when blood glucose-reducing agents are present they are entrapped and prevents blood glucose-raising beyond a preselected blood glucose level, and when the blood glucose-reducing agents are present they are non-covalently bonded to catechol moieties in the catechol containing molecules.

A method of producing a matrix microneedle patch containing blood glucose-reducing agents or blood glucose-raising agents, comprising:

• providing a mold of preselected size for receiving polymer solutions therein, which once the patch is produced it has a base section and microneedles extending away from said base section;
• mixing a first polymer solution of natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones having catechol containing molecules covalently conjugated to the polymeric backbones with blood glucose-reducing agents or blood glucose-raising agents and a second polymer solution of natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones containing glucose-responsive moieties covalently conjugated to the polymeric backbones that interact with the catechol containing molecules such that the natural and/or synthetic polymeric backbones crosslink by auto-oxidation of catechol groups and reversible interactions between the glucose-sensing molecule and the catechol functional groups in the absence of any chemical crosslinking agent;
• and
• wherein when blood glucose-reducing agents are present they are entrapped and prevent the blood glucose level rising beyond a preselected blood glucose level, and when the blood glucose-increasing agents are present they are non-covalently bonded to catechol moieties in the catechol containing molecules and increase blood glucose levels and prevents reduction of blood glucose beyond a preselected blood glucose level.