Polymeric microneedles: advancing potential through innovative manufacturing, polymer design, and characterization techniques

Microneedles (MNs) represent a transformative technology in pharmaceutics, offering a minimally invasive method for drug delivery that enhances patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy. By enabling transdermal administration, MNs provide a promising option to conventional routes of drug delivery, such as injections and oral administration, which may cause discomfort and lead to poor adherence. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of polymeric MNs, with a particular focus on their fabrication techniques, polymer selection strategies, and pharmaceutical characterization methods. It critically examines the latest advancements in manufacturing approaches, emphasizing the role of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers in enhancing drug solubility, stability, and controlled release. This review provides insights into the current landscape of polymeric MN applications in drug delivery, highlighting their potential to revolutionize therapeutic interventions across diverse medical fields. Ongoing advancements in polymeric MN technology could lead to significant improvements in patient outcomes, positioning MNs as a cornerstone of the next generation of drug delivery systems.