Microneedles-photothermal therapy synergy in biomedicine: Innovations and applications

Microneedles (MNs) have emerged as a minimally invasive transdermal platform enabling precise, localized drug delivery with enhanced patient compliance. Coupling MNs with photothermal therapy (PTT) integrates spatially targeted delivery and near infrared-triggered thermal ablation, offering synergistic advantages in tumor treatment, wound healing, and the management of various diseases. This review systematically examines the design strategies of MNs-PTT systems and their applications in different diseases. In tumor therapy, advanced structures and multimodal approaches such as combining PTT with chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gas therapy, address the limitations of conventional treatments. In wound management, biomimetic architectures and microenvironment-responsive materials enable real-time monitoring and adaptive drug release. For other diseases, including inflammatory skin disorders, ocular diseases, oral diseases, autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, and other tissue injuries, MNs-PTT systems provide controlled, on-demand interventions tailored to the specific pathology, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. Unlike previous reviews that treat these domains separately, this work provides an integrated cross-domain analysis connecting material and structural innovations to therapeutic performance, thus establishing a unified framework for advancing MNs-PTT systems. Despite these advances, challenges regarding clinical translation still remain. Future progress will rely on interdisciplinary efforts to improve biocompatibility, optimize mechanical performance, and integrate multi-stimuli responsiveness. The combination of AI-assisted design, wearable biosensors, and 3D printing is expected to enhance system precision, safety, and adaptability, accelerating the development of personalized therapies.