Microneedle: classification, preparation and applications

Microneedles represent a breakthrough in medical technology, facilitating minimally invasive transdermal delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. This review offers a comprehensive summarization of microneedles, focusing on their structural design, material composition, technological development, and practical applications. It systematically compares the benefits, ideal application contexts, and scalability of various preparation techniques for different microneedle types. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are thoroughly analyzed and compared, identifying potential bottlenecks in translation and outlining appropriate clinical application scenarios. Based on the horizontal analysis of these preparation techniques, their translational feasibility is explored. Such serves as a reference for the industrial production of microneedles. Additionally, the review highlights and contrasts the benefits of microneedles in disease treatment and diagnosis compared to traditional therapies. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the application of microneedles in medical aesthetics. Finally, the challenges associated with clinical translation and regulatory compliance were addressed, which provides recommendations to guide future research.