Expanding the applications of microneedles in dermatology

Sabri AH 1 , Ogilvie J 2 , Abdulhamid K 3 , Shpadaruk V 4 , McKenna J 4 , Segal J 5 Show all authors , Scurr DJ 1 , Marlow M 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 Division of Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
  • 2 Walgreens Boots Alliance, Thane Road, Nottingham NG90 1BS, UK
  • 3 Division of Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Leicester Royal Infirmary University Hospitals Leicester Dermatology Department, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK
  • 5 Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK
  • 6 Division of Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Electronic address: Maria.Marlow@nottingham.ac.uk
Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2019 Jul;140:121-140.
PMID: 31059780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2019.05.001

Abstract

Since the first patent for microneedles was filed in the 1970s, research on utilising microneedles as a drug delivery system has progressed significantly. In addition to the extensive research on microneedles for improving transdermal drug delivery, there is a growing interest in using these devices to manage dermatological conditions. This review aims to provide the background on microneedles, the clinical benefits, and challenges of the device along with the potential dermatological conditions that may benefit from the application of such a drug delivery system. The first part of the review provides an outline on benefits and challenges of translating microneedle-based drug delivery systems into clinical practice. The second part of the review covers the application of microneedles in treating dermatological conditions. The efficacy of microneedles along with the limitations of such a strategy to treat diseased skin shall be addressed.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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