Microneedle strategies for diabetic wound management: A comprehensive review of materials, mechanisms, and therapeutic outcomes

Chronic diabetic wounds are one of the most challenging clinical problems because of poor angiogenesis, prolonged inflammation, and retarded tissue repair. Conventional wound dressing does not provide localised and continuous treatment, frequently resulting in unsuccessful therapeutic outcomes. Microneedle (MN) based delivery is envisioned as an ideal approach to transdermal interface with the wound microenvironment to deliver bioactive agents. Because of its minimally invasive nature, ease of use, and ability to bypass the stratum corneum, microneedles as a delivery medium have inherent advantages of site-specific, controllable, and painless drug administration. This review summarises recent progress in the development of MN-based systems for diabetic wound healing and emphasises their potential for delivering growth factors, anti-inflammatory agents, and gene therapies. The addition of smart materials, including stimulus-responsive and bioelectronic microneedles, makes them more efficacious as a therapeutic system. We also address current barriers, regulatory challenges, and prospects for clinical translation of MN-based wound care for diabetes.