Smart Microneedles for Therapy and Diagnosis

The 2020 document discussed the advancements in microneedle technology, a type of miniaturized medical device that can penetrate the skin without causing pain or infection. Microneedles were developed with various features and made from different materials, including metal, glass, and hydrogel. They were used for efficient drug delivery and sensitive detection. Smart microneedles were developed with unique properties such as skin adhesion, dissolvability, and controllable drug release. The document also discussed various fabrication methods, including mold-free methods like drawing lithography, droplet-born air blowing, centrifugal lithography, 3D printing, and microlens-integrated technique. Microneedles were designed with special structures to improve skin adhesion and retention, and were made from rapidly dissolvable materials for efficient drug delivery. They were used for electrochemical detection, colorimetric detection, and cargo delivery, including the delivery of finasteride, a drug used for androgenetic alopecia treatment. Despite their potential, the document noted a gap between experimental assumptions and clinical needs, hindering the development of microneedles in clinical applications.