Microneedle Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems for Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy, Skin Disease Treatment, and Vaccine Development

The document discusses the use of microneedle (MN) transdermal drug delivery systems for delivering drugs, vaccines, and treatments for skin diseases. These systems create micron-sized pores in the skin to enhance drug delivery and reduce side effects associated with conventional needles. They are currently under pre-clinical and clinical trials for delivering a diverse array of therapeutics. For cosmetic purposes, MNs have been found effective in wrinkle reduction, skin whitening, and scar treatment. In treating skin diseases, MNs showed promise in alopecia treatment, with a study finding that MNs combined with 5% minoxidil showed the best hair growth effect. MNs have also been used to deliver vaccines through the skin, inducing antigen-specific immune responses. The document concludes that MNs are a promising alternative to conventional drug delivery methods due to their efficiency, convenience, and potential to generate strong immune responses with smaller doses.