Transdermal Injection with Microneedle Devices in Healthcare Sector: Materials, Challenging Fabrication Methodologies, and its Limitations

Abstract

In recent years, the management of many health disorders takes place at home either by community nurses or by patients independently. However, the medication management inside domestic healthcare situations may be difficult, mainly while therapy is administered via injection. The large percentage of transcutaneous injuries during needle handling has become a hazard in healthcare settings. The proper incineration of needle waste disposal after treatment is a major concern in the medical field. The cost-effective, biocompatible, portable, microfluidic devices are a promising technology for monitoring and diagnosing health conditions. One of the microfluidic device systems is a Microneedle (MN), which is an alternative method of an oral and conventional hypodermic needle for biomedical applications. The development of microminiaturized needles with scale dimensions in the order of 1 mm or less with a biocompatible material is a challenging aspect of today’s scenario. Microneedle-based devices are customized for a wide range of applications, including disease detection, drug delivery mechanisms, and metabolic pathway monitoring. The different types of microneedles are developed based on the applications and their fabrication methodologies are selected based on the material and geometrical structure. Numerous fabrication processes of these microneedle devices from small-scale to large-scale production, with regulatory approval for commercialization, is a challenging perspective. This chapter mainly focuses on the various types of microneedles and the selection of materials for the microneedle type, the benefits of microneedle technology in various health sectors, along with a critical assessment of its possible impact on healthcare being investigated and discussed. It also elaborates on the different challenging microfabrication technologies and their limitations for various types of microneedle devices.