Microneedles for in situ tissue regeneration

Materials Today Bio, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100579 · Published: February 11, 2023

Pharmacology Regenerative Medicine Biomedical

Simple Explanation

Tissue injury is a common clinical problem that can greatly affect patients' lives, so creating functional scaffolds that help repair and regenerate tissues is crucial. Microneedles (MNs) have become popular for tissue regeneration in areas like skin wounds, corneal injuries, and spinal cord injuries because of their special composition and structure. MNs' structure allows them to penetrate barriers in damaged tissue or bioﬁlms, boosting drug availability. They also allow for targeted tissue treatment and better spatial distribution when delivering bioactive molecules, mesenchymal stem cells, and growth factors in situ. At the same time, MNs can also provide mechanical support or directional traction for tissue, thus accelerating tissue repair. This review summarizes the research advancements of microneedles for in situ tissue regeneration over the last ten years, addressing the limitations of current research and discussing future research directions and clinical application prospects.

Study Duration

Over the past decade

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Microneedles can improve the delivery of active substances to enhance bioavailability in tissue repair.
2
Microneedles can regulate the release rate of multiple active substances for on-demand release, which is important due to the complexity of the tissue environment.
3
Microneedles can provide mechanical support or physical stimuli to regulate cellular behavior for rapid wound healing.

Research Summary

This review discusses the design principles of MNs for ISTR and their applications in promoting the repair of damaged tissues such as skin wounds, corneal injuries, myocardial infarction (MI), and endometrial injuries. The review also addresses the shortcomings and clinical translation prospects of existing MNs-based tissue repair materials. MNs offer several advantages over traditional scaffolds, including enhanced penetration, flexible combinations of materials and structures, regulated cell behavior, and versatile delivery methods.

Practical Implications

Improved Drug Bioavailability

MNs can overcome tissue barriers, enhancing drug delivery for better therapeutic outcomes.

Controlled Release of Multiple Actives

MNs allow for the on-demand release of various substances, addressing complex tissue repair needs.

Mechanical Support for Tissue Repair

MNs can provide physical support and stimuli, promoting cellular behavior and faster wound healing.

Study Limitations

1
Limited studies on the effects of physical properties of MNs on the tissue repair process.
2
Problem of low drug loading rate of MNs is still not well solved.
3
Most of the animal models are acute MI caused by ligation of the left anterior descending branch.

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