Microneedles: Selected Applications for Pediatrics

Microneedles are emerging as a promising, painless, and noninvasive alternative for pediatric drug delivery, offering advantages over traditional methods like oral and injectable drugs. They penetrate only the outer skin layers, avoiding pain receptors, making them suitable for children who fear needles. The technology shows potential in applications such as vaccine delivery, glucose monitoring, and treatment of conditions like growth hormone deficiency and infantile hemangiomas. Despite their promise, challenges such as the need for clinical trials in children, regulatory approval, and manufacturing scalability remain. Studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in delivering vaccines and drugs, with high acceptance rates among parents and healthcare professionals. However, issues like local skin reactions and the unique skin structure of children need further research. Overall, microneedles hold transformative potential for pediatric medicine, but further development is necessary to address existing concerns and enhance their adoption in clinical settings.