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Pharmaceutics Feb 2023Microneedles (MNs) have been widely used in biomedical applications for drug delivery and biomarker detection purposes. Furthermore, MNs can also be used as a... (Review)
Review
Microneedles (MNs) have been widely used in biomedical applications for drug delivery and biomarker detection purposes. Furthermore, MNs can also be used as a stand-alone tool to be combined with microfluidic devices. For that purpose, lab- or organ-on-a-chip are being developed. This systematic review aims to summarize the most recent progress in these emerging systems, to identify their advantages and limitations, and discuss promising potential applications of MNs in microfluidics. Therefore, three databases were used to search papers of interest, and their selection was made following the guidelines for systematic reviews proposed by PRISMA. In the selected studies, the MNs type, fabrication strategy, materials, and function/application were evaluated. The literature reviewed showed that although the use of MNs for lab-on-a-chip has been more explored than for organ-on-a-chip, some recent studies have explored this applicability with great potential for the monitoring of organ models. Overall, it is shown that the presence of MNs in advanced microfluidic devices can simplify drug delivery and microinjection, as well as fluid extraction for biomarker detection by using integrated biosensors, which is a promising tool to precisely monitor, in real-time, different kinds of biomarkers in lab- and organ-on-a-chip platforms.
PubMed: 36986653
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030792 -
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2020Microneedles (MNs) have been used to deliver drugs for over two decades. These platforms have been proven to increase transdermal drug delivery efficiency dramatically...
Microneedles (MNs) have been used to deliver drugs for over two decades. These platforms have been proven to increase transdermal drug delivery efficiency dramatically by penetrating restrictive tissue barriers in a minimally invasive manner. While much of the early development of MNs focused on transdermal drug delivery, this technology can be applied to a variety of other non-transdermal biomedical applications. Several variations, such as multi-layer or hollow MNs, have been developed to cater to the needs of specific applications. The heterogeneity in the design of MNs has demanded similar variety in their fabrication methods; the most common methods include micromolding and drawing lithography. Numerous materials have been explored for MN fabrication which range from biocompatible ceramics and metals to natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers. Recent advances in MN engineering have diversified MNs to include unique shapes, materials, and mechanical properties that can be tailored for organ-specific applications. In this review, we discuss the design and creation of modern MNs that aim to surpass the biological barriers of non-transdermal drug delivery in ocular, vascular, oral, and mucosal tissue.
Topics: Administration, Topical; Biological Transport; Drug Delivery Systems; Equipment Design; Humans; Microinjections; Microtechnology; Polymers; Prostheses and Implants
PubMed: 31837356
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.11.010 -
Cureus May 2024Patterned hair loss (PHL) is a severe hair condition that affects both sexes. Mesotherapy is a treatment that involves microinjecting medications and/or vitamins into... (Review)
Review
Patterned hair loss (PHL) is a severe hair condition that affects both sexes. Mesotherapy is a treatment that involves microinjecting medications and/or vitamins into the middle layer of the skin. Mesotherapy reduces systemic adverse effects by delivering drugs directly to the hair follicle, increasing local bioavailability while lowering systemic exposure. Local side effects and reactions may develop due to mesotherapy. This study systematically evaluated the safety and efficacy of mesotherapy to minoxidil 5%, as well as addressing its limitations, dosing, and technique, with the intent of providing valuable trials and insights for clinicians and patients considering mesotherapy for improved androgenetic alopecia (AGA) outcomes. The literature search carried out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria yielded 11 relevant studies from an initial pool of 18 articles. These studies covered various aspects of the role of mesotherapy and minoxidil in AGA, including techniques, complications, limitations, and outcomes. In conclusion, available trials and research on mesotherapy and minoxidil demonstrated excellent statistical significance and a high patient satisfaction rate, with the exception of two publications that took into account certain uncommon adverse effects of mesotherapy. However, recent research suggests that a mesotherapy method for alopecia with a low risk of side effects is effective.
PubMed: 38841017
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59705 -
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Jan 2020This review analyses physical drug delivery enhancement technologies with a focus on improving UV damaged skin, actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancer treatment....
This review analyses physical drug delivery enhancement technologies with a focus on improving UV damaged skin, actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancer treatment. In recent years, physical drug delivery enhancement has been shown to enhance cosmeceutical and skin cancer treatment efficacy, but there are pros and cons to each approach which we discuss in detail. Mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, experimental design, outcomes in academic publications, clinical trial reports and patents are explored to evaluate each technology with a critical, translation focused lens. We conclude that the commercial success of cosmeceutical applications, e.g. microneedles, will drive further innovation in this arena that will impact how actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancers are clinically managed.
Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cosmetic Techniques; Dermatologic Agents; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Iontophoresis; Keratosis, Actinic; Laser Therapy; Microinjections; Skin; Skin Aging; Skin Neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 32339593
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.04.008