Microneedles for drug delivery: trends and progress.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Microneedles (MNs) are a transdermal delivery system merging patch and hypodermic needle technologies.
• MNs feature micron-length needles, enabling minimally or non-painful drug administration.
• Biodegradable MNs offer benefits like reduced sharp waste and tunable drug release kinetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review diverse microneedle technologies and their development.
• To analyze research and patent publication trends in microneedle technology.
• To provide a synopsis of current trends and progress in the MN field for researchers and industry.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of microneedle research and development.
• Time series statistical analysis of research papers and patent publications.
• Comparative analysis of different microneedle types (biodegradable, solid, hollow).

Main Results:

• Significant growth in research papers and patent publications related to microneedles.
• Identification of key technological advancements in MN design and application.
• Highlighting the mechanical strength challenge for biodegradable MN insertion into the stratum corneum.

Conclusions:

• Microneedle technology is rapidly evolving, with increasing research and patent activity.
• Biodegradable microneedles show promise but require further material science development.
• This review offers valuable insights into the dynamic landscape of microneedle-based transdermal delivery.