Page 69 - IJB-10-4

International

Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
Unique benefits and challenges of 3D-printed

microneedles

Xinyu Fu , Jun Gu , Meng Ma , Ruiqi Liu , Siwei Bi , Xiaosheng Zhang *,
3
2
1
1
4
4
and Yi Zhang *
1
1 School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and
Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu,
Sichuan, China
3
School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan,
China
4 Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu,
Sichuan, China
Abstract

Microneedles, which are used in minimally invasive transdermal drug delivery, have
tremendous application potential in the fields of biosensing, disease diagnosis,
bioelectrical signal detection, and wound management. Although manufacturing
methods for microneedles are technically well-established, continuously evolving
scientific and clinical applications require more intricate and bespoke microneedle
structures that cannot be fabricated using conventional techniques. Three-
dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced manufacturing technology capable
of automatically fabricating microneedles with intricate structures. This review
Corresponding authors: provides a comprehensive overview of 3D printing methods and, materials, as well
Xiaosheng Zhang
(zhangxs@uestc.edu.cn) as the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of 3D-printed microneedles,
Yi Zhang with a particular focus on their inherent advantages and limitations. This offers
(yi_zhang@uestc.edu.cn) insights into future trends and strategies for expediting the clinical adoption and
commercialization of 3D-printed microneedles.
Citation: Fu X, Gu J, Ma M, et al.
Unique benefits and challenges of
3D-printed microneedles.
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(4):1896. Keywords: 3D printing; Microneedles; Biosensing; Biocompatibility; Drug Delivery
doi: 10.36922/ijb.1896
Received: September 22, 2023
Accepted: December 1, 2023
Published Online: March 6, 2024 1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Currently, the third most common method for drug administration, after oral and
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the intravenous injection, is subcutaneous injection. However, subcutaneous injection can
1
Creative Commons Attribution cause allergic reactions, bruising, and bleeding, and has a high risk of contamination.
License, permitting distribution, The concept of microneedles was first proposed in 1921 as a means of microdissection
and reproduction in any medium, 2
provided the original work is microanatomy of echinoderm eggs. More recently, microneedles have been applied as a
properly cited. pain-free solution to subcutaneous injection, offering an ideal anodyne for people with
acute or chronic diseases that require topical or systemic therapy. 3-6
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Microneedle fabrication technologies can be broadly categorized into two types:
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional traditional manufacturing or additive manufacturing. Traditional manufacturing
affiliations. methods encompass techniques such as photolithography, etching, laser machining

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 61 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1896