Microneedle-based ocular drug delivery systems – recent advances and challenges

• Piotr Gadziński,
• Anna Froelich,
• Monika Wojtyłko,
• Antoni Białek,
• Julia Krysztofiak and
• Tomasz Osmałek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1167–1184, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.98

• are usually prepared from ceramic materials, silicon, or metal, they display higher stiffness than polymer-based systems. The risk of clogging the internal canals of the needles upon application is mentioned in the literature as a possible drawback of these systems [142]. Dissolving microneedles are

• deliver the full amount of the drug is usually a few minutes; therefore, these microneedles are frequently designed to separate from the pedestal and remain in the tissue [114]. Among the most important disadvantages of dissolving microneedles, a low mechanical strength resulting in difficulties with

• dissolving microneedles and did not require prolonged contact with the eyeball surface thereby decreasing eye irritation and discomfort during application. However, this issue should be thoroughly investigated before releasing any microneedle array-based formulation to the pharmaceutical market. As can be

Ciprofloxacin-loaded dissolving polymeric microneedles as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections

• Sharif Abdelghany,
• Walhan Alshaer,
• Yazan Al Thaher,
• Maram Al Fawares,
• Amal G. Al-Bakri,
• Saja Zuriekat and
• Randa SH. Mansour

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 517–527, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.43

• results suggest that CIP_MN1 can be a potential delivery system for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections. Keywords: dissolving microneedles; microneedles; polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); skin infection; Introduction Topical and transdermal drug delivery is a major route for

• low bioavailability of orally administered drugs due to poor absorption and enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract [3][4]. Among the different types of microneedles, dissolving microneedles have attracted research due to their advantages, which include low cost and simple preparation

• been shown to withstand insertion forces equivalent to thumb press [25]. Also, several research studies have used gentle thumb press for in vitro and ex vivo topical/transdermal delivery studies [48][49][50]. Dissolving microneedles, particularly made of PVP and PVA, have been shown to withstand the

An overview of microneedle applications, materials, and fabrication methods

• Zahra Faraji Rad,
• Philip D. Prewett and
• Graham J. Davies

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1034–1046, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.77

• from cancer research (25% enhanced absorption of the protein cancer drug AvastinTM compared with conventional hypodermic delivery) [14]. Incorporation of drug-loaded nanoparticles in dissolving microneedles also shows promise for dose concentration, for example using the antimicrobial carvacrol (CAR

• channel for pressure-driven fluid communication through the microneedle and the skin [12][54]. The fluid can be a drug, vaccine, blood, or ISF. This design enables the transporting of drug solutions and vaccines rather than their dehydrated form as is the case for dissolving microneedles or the competing