Revolutionizing diabetic wound healing: The power of microneedles

Abstract

Diabetic wounds significantly affect patient quality of life. Microneedles are a promising treatment to accelerate wound healing owing to their high drug-loading capacity and efficient drug delivery; however, few studies to date have comprehensively reviewed microneedles for diabetic wound healing. This up-to-date review summarizes the research progress in microneedles for diabetic wound healing, including manufacturing materials and techniques, structures, designs, release mechanisms, delivery substances, and their specific effects. This study showed that most microneedles designed for diabetic wounds are made of synthetic polymers and/or natural materials using polydimethylsiloxane micromolding. The geometric structure and design directly influence penetration ability and drug delivery capacity. Microneedles can deliver antibiotics, hypoglycemic agents, traditional Chinese medicines, metal ions, growth factors, exosomes, stem cells, and microorganisms, thus promoting diabetic wound healing through diverse mechanisms, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and angiogenic activities, at different stages of the healing process. In conclusion, microneedles are promising drug delivery systems for the treatment of diabetic wounds.