Microneedles- A new paradigm in transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents

• Main Authors: Sayani Bhattacharyya (Author), Kavitha Hasabavi Kotresh (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.29090/psa.2022.05.22.230; 2586-8470
• Keywords: microneedles; microneedling technique; skincare; transdermal drug delivery; microneedle fabrication; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950; Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441; Pharmaceutical industry; HD9665-9675
• Source: Pharmaceutical Sciences Asia, Vol 49, Iss 5, Pp 435-445 (2022)

Microneedles are a new mode of transdermal delivery system that delivers the drug through micron-size pathways caused by disruption of the epidermis. It is an effective procedure with an array of applications in dermatology and drug delivery with a low side effect profile. Microneedles deliver the drug in the epidermis or upper part of the dermis, bypassing the toughest barrier of the stratum corneum, and resulting in a painless delivery. Microneedles are being investigated for the delivery of hormones, vaccines, peptides, and cosmetics. They are fabricated as dissolvable, solid, coated, or hollow depending on the type of drug loading. This review is a comprehensive collection of various aspects of microneedles. The authors focus to enlighten the readers on the mechanism of dermal penetration of microneedles, their fabrication materials, types, design strategy, specificity, and manufacturing. There are a few products already captured the market. A lot of research and clinical studies are yet to establish the scale-up and clinical efficacy of the product. They can be served as a novel modality for the enhancement of topical delivery of drugs at a low cost, well tolerated, and with low profiles of side effects.