A Comprehensive Review of Microneedles: Types, Materials, Processes, Characterizations, and Applications
August 2021
in “
Polymers
”
Studysummary This review discusses the potential of microneedles to enhance transdermal drug delivery by expanding the range of deliverable drugs, highlighting fabrication methods, material choices, and applications, but notes existing challenges with sustained delivery, cost-effectiveness, and large-scale production.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The document reviews microneedles, detailing their types, materials, processes, characterizations, and applications. Microneedles have been used in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, vaccination, and extraction of dermal interstitial fluid for glucose and alcohol monitoring. They've been incorporated in dissolvable microneedle array patches for delivering antigens like the Hepatitis B surface antigen and used for intradermal delivery of adjuvanted recombinant HIV-1 CN54gp140. They've also been used to deliver vaccines against polio, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and hepatitis C. In terms of hair loss and alopecia, microneedling has been successful in treating alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia. The document also explores the use of 3D printing in microneedle system manufacturing and the potential of artificial neural networks in the design and manufacturing process.
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