Advances in Research of Hydrogel Microneedle-Based Delivery Systems for Disease Treatment

December 2024 in “ Pharmaceutics ”

Juan Cao, Bo Wu, Ping Yuan, Yeqi Liu, Cheng Hu

hydrogel microneedle transdermal drug delivery biocompatibility drug-loading capacity tunable drug-release natural polymers synthetic polymers androgenetic alopecia minimally invasive therapeutic effects HMN microneedle

Studysummary This review examines hydrogel microneedles for transdermal drug delivery, discussing their applications and challenges but reports no new clinical results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Hydrogel microneedle (HMN) systems represent a significant advancement in transdermal drug delivery, offering benefits such as biocompatibility, high drug-loading capacity, and tunable drug-release properties. These systems, made from natural and synthetic polymers, have potential applications in treating conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and hair loss. Notably, HMNs provide a minimally invasive and effective method for hair loss treatment, as demonstrated by systems developed for androgenetic alopecia that enhance therapeutic effects with lower doses. Despite their promise, challenges such as limited mechanical strength and lack of standardization remain. Future research should focus on material optimization and fabrication techniques to expand HMN applications in personalized medicine.

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research Dual-Continuous Microneedle Patch Integrating Transdermal Delivery of pH-Sensitive Licorzinc MOFs and Zn2+ Hydrogel Sensors for Treating Alopecia Areata

22 citations , September 2024 in “Chemical Engineering Journal”

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Hydrogel Forming Microneedles Loaded With VEGF and Ritlecitinib/Polyhydroxyalkanoates Nanoparticles for Mini-Invasive Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

research Hydrogel Forming Microneedles Loaded With VEGF and Ritlecitinib/Polyhydroxyalkanoates Nanoparticles for Mini-Invasive Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

April 2024 in “Bioactive materials”

This study found that a microneedle system delivering VEGF and Ritlecitinib improved hair regeneration in mice with androgenetic alopecia, showing faster anagen onset and better hair quality compared to minoxidil.

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research Microneedle-Mediated Delivery of Immunomodulators Restores Immune Privilege in Hair Follicles and Reverses Immune-Mediated Alopecia

2 citations , April 2024 in “Advanced Materials”

This study tested a hydrogel microneedle patch delivering T reg attractants in mice with alopecia, finding it boosted regulatory T cell numbers at the site, leading to hair regrowth without causing peripheral immunosuppression, suggesting a potential new approach for autoimmune skin disease treatment.

research Microneedle Delivery Platform Integrated With Codelivery Nanoliposomes for Effective and Safe Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

March 2024 in “ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces”

This study developed a delivery platform using hyaluronic acid-based dissolvable microneedles with nanoliposomes containing kopexil and kopyrrol, which showed improved hair regeneration for treating androgenetic alopecia in vivo at lower dosages compared to minoxidil.

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This review discusses the evolution and development of smart and multifunctional microneedles, highlighting their potential future importance in medical applications, but it reports no new experimental results.

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81 citations , October 2023 in “Bioactive Materials”

This review highlights the promising potential of 3D printing for creating microneedles with precise customization and improved performance compared to traditional micromolding, emphasizing applications in personalized medical devices and advancements in biomedical fields.

research Advances and Prospects for Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles in Transdermal Drug Delivery

48 citations , July 2023 in “Biomedicines”

This review discusses transdermal drug delivery using hydrogel-forming microneedles and highlights their potential for disease treatment, but notes challenges in their clinical application.

research Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery

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This review discusses transdermal drug delivery using hydrogel-forming microneedles and highlights their potential and challenges for clinical application, but it reports no new clinical findings.

research Going Below and Beyond the Surface: Microneedle Structure, Materials, Drugs, Fabrication, and Applications for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration

61 citations , April 2023 in “Bioactive Materials”

This review article highlights recent advances in microneedle technology for wound healing and tissue regeneration, discussing various cargo types, structural designs, and fabrication methods, and suggesting guidelines for designing microneedle systems tailored to specific applications.