Advanced microneedle arrays for transdermal antibiotic delivery

Abstract

Traditional antibiotic delivery methods face limitations including, systemic toxicity and poor bioavailability. Transdermal microneedle (MN) arrays bypass skin barriers, enhancing antibiotic penetration while minimizing resistance risks. This review examines advanced MN systems such as solid, coated, hollow, dissolvable, and smart stimuli-responsive, highlighting design innovations, nanomaterial integration, and preclinical efficacy against infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). While MN technology enables targeted, minimally invasive delivery, clinical adoption requires overcoming scalability hurdles and demonstrating real-world efficacy. Comprehensive clinical validation remains essential to translate these systems into mainstream solutions for combating antibiotic resistance and improving chronic wound management.