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Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability
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Recent advances in microneedle-based drug delivery: Special emphasis on its use in paediatric population

Sanjukta Duarah1, Manisha Sharma1, Jingyuan Wen1

  • 1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics : Official Journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik E.V
|January 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microneedle technology offers a minimally invasive way to improve transdermal drug delivery, especially for children. This approach overcomes skin barrier challenges for effective systemic delivery of various therapeutic molecules.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Transdermal drug delivery bypasses oral and parenteral routes, offering advantages for pediatric patients by addressing swallowing difficulties and needle phobia.
  • The stratum corneum presents a significant barrier to effective transdermal delivery of macromolecules and genetic materials.
  • Microneedle technology has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome the stratum corneum barrier through minimally invasive micro-channels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolution and current state of microneedle technology for drug delivery.
  • To summarize research on microneedle design, fabrication, materials, and applications, particularly in pediatric drug delivery.
  • To discuss clinical translation progress, regulatory aspects, and future prospects of microneedle technology.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of microneedle technology research.
  • Analysis of microneedle types, fabrication strategies, and material properties (biodegradability, biocompatibility).
  • Examination of studies focusing on microneedle-mediated drug delivery, especially for pediatric populations.

Main Results:

  • Significant advancements in microneedle design and fabrication have been made.
  • Microneedles demonstrate potential for effective transdermal delivery of molecules previously limited by the stratum corneum.
  • Research highlights successful applications in pediatric drug delivery, with ongoing clinical translation and regulatory evaluations.

Conclusions:

  • Microneedle technology represents a significant advancement in transdermal drug delivery, overcoming key limitations of conventional methods.
  • Further research can enhance the therapeutic efficiency of microneedle-based delivery for a wider range of molecules, particularly in pediatric care.
  • The technology shows promise for broader clinical adoption and commercialization, pending regulatory approvals.

Keywords:
Drug deliveryMicroneedle technologyPaediatric drug deliveryPaediatric formulationStratum corneumTransdermal delivery

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