Cinnarizine dissolving microneedles against microwave-induced brain injury

Microwave is commonly used in the life, manufacturing and military fields, which may induce body injuries. Brain is the major target organ of microwave radiation and microwave-induced brain injury (MIBI) can lead to insomnia, dreaminess, and a decline in learning and memory. However, there is no clinical medications are available currently. Calcium channel blockers may protect the brain tissue from microwave but most of them cannot enter the brain. Here, we selected a calcium channel blocker-cinnarizine to prepare its dissolving microneedles (MNs) for the therapy of MIBI. The cinnarizine MNs was composed of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) K90 as the tip, the photopolymerized PVP as the base and the drug, which owned high mechanical strength, leading to easily piecing the skin on the neck and high drug release in vivo. The cinnarizine MNs markedly improved the recovery of spatial memory and spontaneous exploratory behavior of the rats after microwave radiation by inhibiting the expression of calcineurin and calpain-1. The dissolving MN technique is a promising method to improve drugs into the body and perform the anti-microwave radiation action. [Display omitted] •Cinnarizine dissolving microneedles is simple to prepare and can penetrate the stratum corneum.•Cinnarizine dissolving microneedles are more user-friendly and safe, which can ensure rapid release of cinnarizine.•Cinnarizine might treat microwave-induced brain injury by inhibiting Ca2+ overloading.