Bionic microneedles: Design inspired by bionics and its applications in medicine

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Microneedles (MNs) offer efficient transdermal drug delivery by bypassing the skin barrier.
• Traditional MNs face challenges like poor structural integrity, adhesion, and unpredictable drug release.
• Bionics provides a framework for developing advanced, nature-inspired MN technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in bioinspired microneedle systems.
• To highlight innovative designs addressing limitations of conventional MNs.
• To discuss the medical applications and future trends of bionic MNs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent literature on bionic microneedle systems.
• Analysis of structural designs, mechanical properties, and adhesion.
• Examination of applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and biomonitoring.

Main Results:

• Bionic MNs demonstrate enhanced penetration, adhesion, and multifunctional performance.
• Bioinspired designs overcome limitations of conventional MNs.
• Bionic MNs show potential in drug delivery, wound healing, and biosensing.

Conclusions:

• Bionic microneedle technology offers significant improvements over traditional systems.
• Further research and development are crucial for clinical translation.
• Bionic MNs hold promise for diverse medical applications.