Engineering Microneedles for Therapy and Diagnosis: A Survey

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Microneedle (MN) technology is rapidly advancing in the point-of-care (POC) field.
• MN devices enable minimally invasive detection of clinical analytes and transdermal drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent achievements in MN-based devices.
• To investigate materials, fabrication, classification, and applications of MNs.
• To discuss challenges and future trends in MN-based POC devices.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of MN technology.
• Analysis of MN materials and fabrication techniques.
• Exploration of MN applications in diagnostics and drug delivery.

Main Results:

• MNs show significant potential for biofluid extraction, diagnosis, and drug delivery.
• Multifunctional MNs offer stimulus-responsive and long-term disease treatment.
• Current review highlights advancements from research to clinical application.

Conclusions:

• Microneedle technology is a promising platform for advanced POC devices.
• Continued research is crucial for overcoming challenges and realizing the full potential of MNs.
• MN-based POC devices are poised to revolutionize diagnostics and therapeutics.