Graphene-Based Polymeric Microneedles for Biomedical Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Transdermal drug delivery offers noninvasive administration but faces challenges with the stratum corneum barrier.
• Polymer-based microneedles penetrate the stratum corneum but have limitations in therapeutic efficacy and drug release rates.
• Nanodrug incorporation into microneedles is a recent advancement to improve drug delivery efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current microneedle technologies, focusing on materials, fabrication, and performance.
• To examine the potential of graphene-based microneedles compared to traditional polymer microneedles.
• To identify challenges and future research directions for graphene-enhanced microneedles.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current microneedle technologies.
• Comparative analysis of graphene-based and polymer-based microneedles.
• Exploration of nanodrug incorporation and graphene derivatives in microneedle systems.

Main Results:

• Graphene and its derivatives (GO, rGO) enhance microneedle mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and antibacterial properties.
• Graphene-based microneedles show potential for improved drug release rates and stability compared to polymer-based systems.
• Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) offer enhanced drug release, stability, and real-time tracking capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Graphene-enhanced microneedles represent a promising advancement in transdermal drug delivery.
• Challenges in scalability, biocompatibility, and fabrication complexity need to be addressed for clinical translation.
• Future research should focus on optimizing graphene integration and exploring applications in smart drug delivery and biosensing.