From mechanism to applications: Advanced microneedles for clinical medicine

Advanced microneedles (MNs) are a series of complex and multifunctional MNs designed for a variety of clinical applications that are not only efficacious but also cost-effective, acceptable, and safe. In light of the potential limitations of conventional drug delivery, including low drug bioavailability and insufficient therapeutic efficiency, as well as the financial burden and discomfort associated with conventional detection, there is a thirst for alternatives. As a novel form of cargo delivery capable of penetrating tissue surface barriers easily, MNs avoid the various risks associated with traditional testing tools, and can achieve precise, on-demand, or continuous drug delivery. It has great potential to become an ideal clinical tool. Herein, an exhaustive review is proposed to summarize the designs and research progress of MNs. First, the designs and fabrication of it are introduced. Next, recent advances of applications in detection and therapy of MNs are systematically classified and discussed. Second, clinical trials of MNs in recent five years and commercial MNs are provided. Furthermore, this review discusses the limitations and challenges of MNs and speculates on their prospective evolution and applications in biomedicine. This review focuses on the future effective utilization of MNs and novel designs of innovative and effective clinical MNs devices.