Publications

Microneedle (MN) technologies have emerged as a groundbreaking platform for transdermal and intradermal drug delivery, offering a minimally invasive alternative to oral and parenteral routes. Unlike passive transdermal systems, MNs allow the permeation of hydrophilic macromolecules, such as peptides, proteins, and vaccines, by penetrating the stratum corneum barrier without causing pain or tissue damage, unlike hypodermic needles. Recent advances in materials science, microfabrication, and biomedical engineering have enabled the development of various MN types, including solid, coated, dissolving, hollow, hydrogel-forming, and hybrid designs. Each type has unique mechanisms, fabrication techniques, and pharmacokinetic profiles, providing customized solutions for a range of therapeutic applications. The integration of 3D printing technologies and stimulus-responsive polymers into MN systems has enabled patches that combine drug delivery with real-time physiological sensing. Over the years, MN applications have grown beyond vaccines to include the delivery of insulin, anticancer agents, contraceptives, and various cosmeceutical ingredients, highlighting the versatility of this platform. Despite this progress, broader clinical and commercial adoption is still limited by issues such as scalable and reliable manufacturing, patient acceptance, and meeting regulatory expectations. Overcoming these barriers will require coordinated efforts across engineering, clinical research, and regulatory science. This review thoroughly summarizes MN technologies, beginning with their classification and drug-delivery mechanisms, and then explores innovations, therapeutic uses, and translational challenges. It concludes with a critical analysis of clinical case studies and a future outlook for global healthcare. By comparing technological progress with regulatory and commercial hurdles, this article highlights the opportunities and limitations of MN systems as a next-generation drug-delivery platform.

JTD Keywords: 3d printing, Arrays, Biomaterials, Design, Drug delivery, Kinetics, Microneedle, Patch, Release, Transdermal delivery, Vaccines

Diabetes mellitus has become one of the greatest medical challenges affecting millions of people globally. Non- and minimally invasive approaches for insulin release are currently being intensively investigated to improve the treatment efficacy and quality of life for diabetic patients. Electrically triggered drug release exhibits tremendous potential since it allows medications to be dosed intermittently on demand and over a long period of time using simple, safe, and inexpensive approaches. Despite such advantages, the use of electrical signals has been mainly focused on the delivery of small drugs, with the administration of protein-based drugs, such as insulin, being addressed only sporadically. However, in recent years, the controlled release of insulin through electrical stimulation has begun to be seriously studied, attracting interest because of its capacity to reduce the incidence of hyperglycemia, which further reduces the potential complications in diabetic patients. This review examines the state of the art of electroregulated insulin delivery systems, discussing the current different approaches existing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each one of them.

JTD Keywords: Acid) hydrogels, Composites, Controlled-release, Diabetes management, Drug-delivery, Electrochemical glucose sensors, Iontophoresis, Nanoparticles, Recent progress, Transdermal delivery