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Micromachines
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Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications
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Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "B：Biology and Biomedicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 5511

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Colin Dalton

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Electrical and Software Engineering Department, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: biomedical micro devices; brain machine interfaces; electrokinetics; lab-on-a-chip; micro electrode arrays; microfluidics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the pandemic, there was an increased focus on the microneedles used for vaccine delivery, with the commencing of clinical trials. In the commercial space, polymer microneedle arrays for cosmetic application have been approved in many jurisdictions, and microneedle manufacturing facilities for pharmaceutics have been constructed. As microneedle research is interdisciplinary, requiring expertise in microfabrication, manufacturing scale up, computer modeling, pharmaceutical formulation, immunology, and pharmacology, the focus of this Special Issue will be on the current trends and advancements related to the design, fabrication, and applications of microneedles and microneedle arrays/patches.

Topics will include the fundamental materials science of microneedles, skin insertion mechanics, applicators, drug delivery, biosensing, traditional microneedle manufacturing processes such as photolithography and polymer injection molding, and emerging micro-additive/hybrid fabrication technologies such as multi-material 3D printing and laser sintering. All types of microneedles will be covered, including hollow, solid, coated, and dissolvable needles. We also welcome submissions that discuss manufacturing supply chain issues specific to microneedles, such as repeatability, reliability, scale up, sterilization, storage, usage, and disposal.

We look forward to showcasing your research papers, communications, and review articles.

Dr. Colin Dalton
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solid and hollow microneedles
  • coated microneedles
  • dissolvable microneedles
  • microneedle microfabrication
  • microneedle arrays
  • microneedle patches
  • microneedle applications
  • microneedle design
  • drug delivery
  • biosensing
  • biocompatibility
  • tissue mechanics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 8989 KiB  
Article
Microneedle-Assisted Delivery of Curcumin: Evaluating the Effects of Needle Length and Formulation
by Em-on Chaiprateep, Soma Sengupta and Cornelia M. Keck
Micromachines 2025, 16(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16020155 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1021
Abstract
Dermal drug delivery presents a significant challenge for poorly soluble active compounds like curcumin, which often struggle to penetrate the skin barrier effectively. In this study, the dermal penetration efficacy of curcumin nanocrystals and bulk suspensions when applied to skin using microneedles of [...] Read more.
Dermal drug delivery presents a significant challenge for poorly soluble active compounds like curcumin, which often struggle to penetrate the skin barrier effectively. In this study, the dermal penetration efficacy of curcumin nanocrystals and bulk suspensions when applied to skin using microneedles of varying lengths—0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm—was investigated in an ex vivo porcine ear model. The findings revealed that all formulations, in conjunction with microneedle application, facilitated transepidermal penetration; however, the combination of microneedles and curcumin nanocrystals demonstrated the highest efficacy. Notably, the 1.0 mm microneedle length provided optimal penetration, significantly enhancing curcumin delivery compared with bulk suspensions alone. Additionally, even the use of 0.25 mm microneedles resulted in a high level of efficiency, indicating that shorter microneedles can still effectively facilitate drug delivery. Overall, this study underscores the potential of microneedle technology in improving the transepidermal absorption of poorly soluble actives like curcumin, suggesting that the integration of nanocrystals with microneedles could enhance the therapeutic effects of topical curcumin applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications)
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21 pages, 5821 KiB  
Article
Microneedles as Modern Carriers of Plant Extracts
by Jagoda Chudzińska-Skorupinska, Agata Wawrzyńczak and Agnieszka Feliczak-Guzik
Micromachines 2025, 16(2), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16020143 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 622
Abstract
Recently, intensive research has been conducted on effective and simple systems for delivering active substances deep into the epidermis, e.g., for the treatment of skin inflammation. One possibility can be the use of soluble microneedles in which active compounds are encapsulated. This article [...] Read more.
Recently, intensive research has been conducted on effective and simple systems for delivering active substances deep into the epidermis, e.g., for the treatment of skin inflammation. One possibility can be the use of soluble microneedles in which active compounds are encapsulated. This article describes the preparation of modern carriers, namely microneedles with encapsulated extracts of red beet or parsley leaves, that are rich in active substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, specifically betanin and apigenin. The concentration of hyaluronic acid sodium salt, the method of preparing the solution, and the technique of the complete filling of molds were optimized. Plant extracts were obtained with sonication or maceration. In order to characterize the extracts obtained, several techniques were employed, such as UV–Vis, LC–MS, GC–MS, and FTIR-ATR. The analyses performed allowed for confirmation of the presence of selected active substances in the extracts. The most optimal solution of the microneedles’ precursor turned out to be the one with a concentration of 10 wt.% of sodium hyaluronate, prepared by stirring and sonication. The most efficient extraction method for each plant was chosen, and the extracts were introduced into a solution of hyaluronic acid sodium salt. The resulting soluble microneedle patches can be used as an alternative to the traditional methods of delivering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances of plant origin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications)
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15 pages, 6089 KiB  
Article
Optical Microneedle–Lens Array for Selective Photothermolysis
by Jongho Park, Kotaro Shobayashi and Beomjoon Kim
Micromachines 2024, 15(6), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15060725 - 30 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1530
Abstract
Photothermolysis is the process that converts radiation energy into thermal energy, which results in the destruction of surrounding tissues or cells through thermal diffusion. Laser therapy that is based on photothermolysis has been a widely used treatment for various skin diseases such as [...] Read more.
Photothermolysis is the process that converts radiation energy into thermal energy, which results in the destruction of surrounding tissues or cells through thermal diffusion. Laser therapy that is based on photothermolysis has been a widely used treatment for various skin diseases such as skin cancers and port-wine stains. It offers several benefits such as non-invasiveness and selective treatment. However, the use of light, e.g., laser, for safe and effective photothermolysis becomes challenging due to the limited penetration of light into skin tissue as well as the presence of melanin, which absorbs this light. To solve the current issues, we propose an optical microneedle–lens array (OMLA) coated with gold in this work to directly deliver light to targeted skin layers without being absorbed by surrounding tissues as well as melanin, which results in the improvement of the efficiency of photothermal therapy. We developed a novel fabrication method, frame-guided micromolding, to prepare the OMLA by assembling two negative molds with simultaneous alignment. In addition, evaluations of the optical and heat transfer characteristics of the OMLA were performed. We expect our developed OMLA to play a crucial role in realizing more effective laser therapy by allowing the precise delivery of photons to the target area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications)
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Review

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22 pages, 3009 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Materials for 3D-Printed Microneedle Arrays: Enhancing Performance and Biocompatibility
by Mahmood Razzaghi, Joel Alexander Ninan and Mohsen Akbari
Micromachines 2024, 15(12), 1433; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15121433 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
The rapid advancement of 3D printing technology has revolutionized the fabrication of microneedle arrays (MNAs), which hold great promise in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. This review uniquely explores advanced materials used in the production of 3D-printed MNAs, [...] Read more.
The rapid advancement of 3D printing technology has revolutionized the fabrication of microneedle arrays (MNAs), which hold great promise in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. This review uniquely explores advanced materials used in the production of 3D-printed MNAs, including photopolymer resins, biocompatible materials, and composite resins, designed to improve mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and functional performance. Additionally, it introduces emerging trends such as 4D printing for programmable MNAs. By analyzing recent innovations, this review identifies critical challenges and proposes future directions to advance the field of 3D-printed MNAs. Unlike previous reviews, this paper emphasizes the integration of innovative materials with advanced 3D printing techniques to enhance both the performance and sustainability of MNAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Microneedles: Design, Fabrication and Applications)
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