Recent advances in dissolving microneedle delivery systems for breast cancer therapy.

Introduction: Breast cancer, a malignancy characterized by high recurrence and mortality rates, faces critical bottlenecks in conventional therapies including systemic toxicity and insufficient drug concentration at lesion sites. Dissolving microneedles (DMNs) are micron-scale arrays fabricated from biodegradable materials. By leveraging their unique capability to penetrate the epidermal barrier and deliver drugs with precision, DMNs pioneer a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment.

Areas covered: This review provides new insights and directions for breast cancer research by systematically examining the latest advances in DMNs for breast cancer treatment. We comprehensively analyze DMNs mechanisms for localized delivery of chemotherapeutics, targeted degraders, immunomodulators, and gene editors, while assessing synergistic combinations with nanotechnology, physical therapies, and immunotherapy to overcome drug resistance and immunosuppression.

Expert opinion: Based on the literature review, DMNs demonstrate potential for breast cancer therapy through localized multi-agent delivery and combination strategies, significantly improving treatment efficacy for superficial tumors while minimizing systemic exposure.