Kim Jongwon, Jeong Jaeheon, Jo Jung Ki, So Hongyun
Department of Medical and Digital Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
Mater Today Bio. 2025 Apr 10;32:101754. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101754. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Microneedles, small needle-like structures typically less than 1000 μm in length, are effective tools for transporting substances across biological barriers via minimally invasive pathways. Various microelectromechanical system (MEMS) processes enable the production of different types of microneedles, including solid, coated, dissolving, hydrogel, and hollow microneedles, each tailored to specific drug and fluid delivery mechanisms. Among these, hollow microneedles stand out for their ability to offer flexible dosage control adaptable to varying drug formulations, making them particularly promising for transdermal drug delivery systems. This review examines the fabrication processes of hollow microneedles, highlights the advantages of their hollow structure for medical applications, and discusses the key factors influencing their performance. Finally, it proposes directions for advancing these technologies in both industrial and research settings.
微针是一种通常长度小于1000微米的针状结构,是通过微创途径将物质输送穿过生物屏障的有效工具。各种微机电系统(MEMS)工艺能够生产不同类型的微针,包括实心、涂层、溶解、水凝胶和空心微针,每种微针都针对特定的药物和流体输送机制进行了定制。其中,空心微针因其能够提供适应不同药物制剂的灵活剂量控制能力而脱颖而出,使其在透皮给药系统中特别有前景。本文综述了空心微针的制造工艺,强调了其空心结构在医学应用中的优势,并讨论了影响其性能的关键因素。最后,提出了在工业和研究环境中推进这些技术的方向。