Dexmedetomidine-Loaded Hydrogel Microneedles Alleviate Acute Inflammatory Visceral Pain in Mice

The study explores the use of dexmedetomidine-loaded hydrogel microneedles (MN/Dex) to alleviate acute inflammatory visceral pain (AIVP) in mice, involving 24 mice divided into groups. This novel delivery system offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional methods, effectively reducing pain without sedation and preserving normal physiological activities. The microneedles demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and efficient drug release, with 95.27% of the drug localized in the needle bodies. The MN/Dex system provided sustained pain relief, showed no significant cytotoxicity or hemolytic activity, and allowed skin recovery within three hours post-application. The study supports the potential of MN/Dex for clinical translation, offering a promising approach for managing visceral pain with reduced systemic side effects.