Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications

Ling Liu,1 Fangyan Wang,1 Xiang Chen,1 Liangle Liu,2 Yibing Wang,1 Jingyi Bei,1 Lanjie Lei,1 Zhangwei Zhao,2 Chengxuan Tang2 1Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shure...

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Main Authors: Liu L, Wang F, Chen X, Wang Y, Bei J, Lei L, Zhao Z, Tang C
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:International Journal of Nanomedicine
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/designing-multifunctional-microneedles-in-biomedical-engineering-mater-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN
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author Liu L
Wang F
Chen X
Liu L
Wang Y
Bei J
Lei L
Zhao Z
Tang C
author_facet Liu L
Wang F
Chen X
Liu L
Wang Y
Bei J
Lei L
Zhao Z
Tang C
author_sort Liu L
collection DOAJ
description Ling Liu,1 Fangyan Wang,1 Xiang Chen,1 Liangle Liu,2 Yibing Wang,1 Jingyi Bei,1 Lanjie Lei,1 Zhangwei Zhao,2 Chengxuan Tang2 1Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325200, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lanjie Lei, Email leilanjie1988@163.com Chengxuan Tang, Email tangchengxuan@wmu.edu.cnAbstract: This review focuses on the emerging technology of multifunctional microneedles (MNs) within the biomedical engineering (BME) field, highlighting their potential in drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Previous studies have explored MNs in various applications; however, their diverse functionalities across different material types and advanced application domains have been rarely comprehensively explored. This review bridges this gap by providing insights into the application of MNs in materials science, drug delivery, diagnostic monitoring, and tissue engineering. The unique properties and skin effects of various inorganic (eg, silicon, metals) and organic materials (eg, polysaccharides, polymers, proteins) used in MNs are examined. The analysis emphasizes the advantages of different MN materials, ie, their biocompatibility, degradation rates, and application specificity. In addition, the preparation processes and application scenarios of each MN type, such as minimally invasive drug delivery in transdermal applications and their benefits in tissue engineering for promoting repair, regeneration, and precise delivery of cells and growth factors in tissues like skin, cartilage, muscle, bone, and nerves, are discussed. Furthermore, this review explores the innovative use of MNs in brain–computer interfaces—an area not yet thoroughly examined. This novel application offers significant opportunities in neuroscience and clinical practice. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the current research landscape and unexplored areas of MNs, contributing to future advancements in BME.Keywords: biomedical engineering, multifunctional microneedles, minimally invasive technique, brain–computer interface
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publisher Dove Medical Press
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series International Journal of Nanomedicine
spelling doaj-art-4eb587778fe74230b22e0f8469ee7bfb2025-08-20T02:43:55ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132025-07-01Volume 20Issue 186938728104480Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and ApplicationsLiu LWang F0Chen X1Liu L2Wang YBei J3Lei L4Zhao Z5Tang C6Shulan International Medical CollegeShulan International Medical CollegeDepartment of Spinal SurgeryShulan International Medical CollegeShulan International Medical CollegeDepartment of Spinal SurgeryDepartment of Spinal SurgeryLing Liu,1 Fangyan Wang,1 Xiang Chen,1 Liangle Liu,2 Yibing Wang,1 Jingyi Bei,1 Lanjie Lei,1 Zhangwei Zhao,2 Chengxuan Tang2 1Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325200, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lanjie Lei, Email leilanjie1988@163.com Chengxuan Tang, Email tangchengxuan@wmu.edu.cnAbstract: This review focuses on the emerging technology of multifunctional microneedles (MNs) within the biomedical engineering (BME) field, highlighting their potential in drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Previous studies have explored MNs in various applications; however, their diverse functionalities across different material types and advanced application domains have been rarely comprehensively explored. This review bridges this gap by providing insights into the application of MNs in materials science, drug delivery, diagnostic monitoring, and tissue engineering. The unique properties and skin effects of various inorganic (eg, silicon, metals) and organic materials (eg, polysaccharides, polymers, proteins) used in MNs are examined. The analysis emphasizes the advantages of different MN materials, ie, their biocompatibility, degradation rates, and application specificity. In addition, the preparation processes and application scenarios of each MN type, such as minimally invasive drug delivery in transdermal applications and their benefits in tissue engineering for promoting repair, regeneration, and precise delivery of cells and growth factors in tissues like skin, cartilage, muscle, bone, and nerves, are discussed. Furthermore, this review explores the innovative use of MNs in brain–computer interfaces—an area not yet thoroughly examined. This novel application offers significant opportunities in neuroscience and clinical practice. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the current research landscape and unexplored areas of MNs, contributing to future advancements in BME.Keywords: biomedical engineering, multifunctional microneedles, minimally invasive technique, brain–computer interfacehttps://www.dovepress.com/designing-multifunctional-microneedles-in-biomedical-engineering-mater-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJNBiomedical engineeringmultifunctional microneedleminimally invasive techniquebrain-computer interface
spellingShingle Liu L
Wang F
Chen X
Liu L
Wang Y
Bei J
Lei L
Zhao Z
Tang C
Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
International Journal of Nanomedicine
Biomedical engineering
multifunctional microneedle
minimally invasive technique
brain-computer interface
title Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
title_full Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
title_fullStr Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
title_full_unstemmed Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
title_short Designing Multifunctional Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Materials, Methods, and Applications
title_sort designing multifunctional microneedles in biomedical engineering materials methods and applications
topic Biomedical engineering
multifunctional microneedle
minimally invasive technique
brain-computer interface
url https://www.dovepress.com/designing-multifunctional-microneedles-in-biomedical-engineering-mater-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN
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