Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a neglected tropical disease with limited effective topical treatment options due to poor skin penetration, intracellular localisation of parasites, and the systemic toxicity associated with conventional amphotericin B (AmB) therapy. This study investigated the comparative stability and suitability of AmB-loaded liposomes, niosomes, and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for incorporation into stereolithography (SLA) 3D-printed gecko-inspired microneedle (MN) arrays for targeted dermal delivery. Formulations were characterised for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency (EE%), thermal behaviour, stability, and compatibility with SLA fabrication. Following integration into MN arrays, mechanical strength, insertion capability, and in vitro drug release behaviour were evaluated. Comparative post-printing studies demonstrated that niosomes and NLCs maintained superior physicochemical stability and sustained release characteristics compared with liposomal systems, which exhibited vesicle disruption following fabrication. The findings support the further optimisation of stable nanocarrier-integrated MN platforms as minimally invasive therapeutic strategies for cutaneous leishmaniasis.