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Updated: Jun 8, 2025
Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography
Published on: November 17, 2015
Strategies to develop polymeric microneedles for controlled drug release
Bo Zhi Chen1, Yu Ting He2, Ze Qiang Zhao2
1State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Microneedle controlled-release systems offer minimally invasive, spatiotemporally controlled drug delivery. Innovations in polymeric microneedle design enhance drug release precision for next-generation therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Microneedle (MN) systems are gaining traction for drug delivery due to their minimally invasive nature and potential for controlled release.
- Advancements focus on material properties, MN design, and external device integration for spatiotemporal control.
- Understanding drug release mechanisms (diffusion, swelling, degradation, triggering, targeting) is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review design strategies for polymeric microneedle systems enabling temporally controlled and locally targeted drug release.
- To examine drug release mechanisms from polymeric microneedles.
- To discuss the potential and challenges of translating these systems into advanced therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microneedle system design strategies.
- Analysis of drug release mechanisms from polymeric microneedles.
- Discussion of current research and future perspectives.
Main Results:
- Polymeric microneedle systems can be designed for precise spatiotemporal drug release.
- Various mechanisms govern drug release, offering tunable profiles.
- Innovative designs are expanding the capabilities of microneedle drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Microneedle technology holds significant promise for developing next-generation therapies with enhanced drug delivery control.
- Further research into design and translation is needed to overcome existing challenges.
- The field is rapidly evolving, offering new avenues for targeted and controlled therapeutic interventions.
