Dissolving microneedles with antibacterial functionalities: A systematic review of laboratory studies

Dissolving microneedles (MN) with enhanced physiochemical properties are generating considerable interest as antibacterial delivery devices, which minimize hazardous sharp wastes, injuries, and transmission of blood-borne pathogens. This systematic review demonstrates and analyzes the current state of dissolvable antibacterial MN to establish their efficacy, and the effect of biomaterials selection on their final properties. A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three electronic databases Pubmed, Google scholar, and Scopus were explored for peer-reviewed articles. A total of 551 results with 176 citations and 915 references of resulted articles were reviewed and analyzed. No publication date restrictions were imposed. Last search was placed on 9th of June, 2021. The literature search in electronic databases according to the inclusion criteria was funneled down to 20 papers that were related to antibacterial effects of dissolving microneedles. In conclusion, all included dissolving MN studies presented an enhanced or at least an equal antibacterial activity against common bacterial species when compared to conventional treatments. In addition, composition modifications can enhance their activity and performance. Other factors such as the size and geometry of the produced MN can be tailored to conform to the infected site's characteristics.