Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug Delivery: Overview

Drug Delivery: Overview

The selection of a drug's delivery route depends upon its physicochemical properties, including lipid or water solubility and ionization, as well as the therapeutic requirement, such as immediate or sustained effect. These routes can be divided into three primary categories: enteral, parenteral, and topical.
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...

Drug Delivery: Enteral Route

Drug Delivery: Enteral Route

The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection, and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...

Hybridoma Technology

Hybridoma Technology

Hybridoma technology is used for the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies bind to only a single antigenic determinant or epitope. Such antibodies are used in research, diagnostics, and disease therapy. The hybridoma technology established in 1975 by Georges Köhler and Cesar Milstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1984 for revolutionizing research and therapy.
Hybridoma Selection
Commonly used fusion techniques — electroporation,...

Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System

Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System

Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Unveiling the Power of Deuterium in Drug Discovery: A Comprehensive Overview.

MedComm·2026

Same author

Bi-Layered Tablets as a Novel Platform for Wound Healing and Synergistic Combination Therapy.

AAPS PharmSciTech·2026

Same author

Nanobody Therapeutics in Alzheimer's Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Translational Approaches.

Antibodies (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Latest Advancements in Biotherapeutics.

Current pharmaceutical biotechnology·2025

Same author

Direct Targeting of CXCR2 Receptor Inhibits Neuroblastoma Growth: An In Vitro Assessment.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

STAT3 axis in cancer and cancer stem cells: From oncogenesis to targeted therapies.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Published on: July 12, 2024

Microneedle Technologies for Drug Delivery: Innovations, Applications, and Commercial Challenges.

Kranthi Gattu¹, Deepika Godugu², Harsha Jain³

¹Industrial Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.

|January 28, 2026

Summary

Microneedle (MN) technology offers a minimally invasive way to deliver drugs, including large molecules, painlessly through the skin. Innovations are expanding its use, but manufacturing and regulatory hurdles remain for wider adoption.

Keywords:

3D printing biomaterials drug delivery microneedle transdermal delivery vaccines

More Related Videos

Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles

Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles

Published on: October 8, 2016

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Published on: November 17, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Published on: July 12, 2024

Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles

Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles

Published on: October 8, 2016

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Published on: November 17, 2015

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science
Pharmacology

Background:

Microneedle (MN) technology represents a significant advancement in drug delivery, providing a minimally invasive alternative to traditional methods.
MNs enable the transdermal and intradermal delivery of hydrophilic macromolecules, such as peptides, proteins, and vaccines, bypassing the stratum corneum without pain or damage.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive review of microneedle technologies for drug delivery.
To explore innovations, therapeutic applications, and translational challenges associated with MN systems.
To critically analyze clinical case studies and offer a future outlook for MNs in healthcare.

Main Methods:

Classification of various MN types (solid, coated, dissolving, hollow, hydrogel-forming, hybrid).
Analysis of fabrication techniques and pharmacokinetic profiles for different MN designs.
Review of recent advances including 3D printing and stimulus-responsive polymers.

Main Results:

Diverse MN designs offer customized drug delivery solutions for various therapeutic needs.
Applications have expanded beyond vaccines to include insulin, anticancer agents, contraceptives, and cosmeceuticals.
Integration with 3D printing enables combined drug delivery and physiological sensing.

Conclusions:

Microneedle technology holds significant promise as a next-generation drug delivery platform.
Scalable manufacturing, patient acceptance, and regulatory compliance are key barriers to widespread clinical and commercial adoption.
Coordinated efforts in engineering, clinical research, and regulatory science are crucial for overcoming these challenges and realizing the full potential of MN systems.