Advances in Antimicrobial Microneedle Patches for Combating Infections

Abstract

Skin infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi are difficult to treat by conventional topical administration because of poor drug penetration across the stratum corneum. This results in low bioavailability of drugs to the infection site, as well as the lack of prolonged release. Emerging antimicrobial transdermal and ocular microneedle patches have become promising medical devices for the delivery of various antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral therapeutics. In the present review, skin anatomy and its barriers along with skin infection are discussed. Potential strategies for designing antimicrobial microneedles and their targeted therapy are outlined. Finally, biosensing microneedle patches associated with personalized drug therapy and selective toxicity toward specific microbial species are discussed.

Functionalization of polymers and nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, textile and biomedical applications: a review

“…Improving the biocompatibility, water solubility, biodegradability, bioavailability, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and anticancer properties, and imaging capability are among several types of features which could be provided via utilization of nanomaterials in biomedicine (Abd Elkodous et al 2019;Vuppaladadium et al 2020;Deb et al 2019). The application of nanomaterials in the field of biomedicine is varied from utilizing as drug delivery vehicles or therapeutic agents for different types of diseases and infections, to diagnostic agents in biological imaging, cell labeling and biosensors and functionalizing moieties for medical devices like stents or lenses (Jamaledin et al 2020;Rout et al 2018). Based on the literature, nanomaterials are classified into three main categories: (1) organic nanoparticles like dendrimers, lipid-based nanosystems, polymers and biopolymers, (2) inorganic nanoparticles including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (like magnetic, Au, Ag, Cu), carbon-based nanoparticles (graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon dot and graphene quantum dot), silica nanoparticles, quantum dots and upconversion nanoparticles and (3) hybrid nanomaterials which are a complex of inorganic and organic nanomaterials in different forms (like core-shell nanoplatforms, nanocomposites, hydrogels, nanocapsules, nanospheres, etc.)…”

Functionalization of Polymers and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial Platforms and Drug Carriers

“…Humans are always exposed to the threat of microbial infections regardless of place and time [12,13]. There are three ways to impart antimicrobial activity to a platform ( Figure 2).…”

Derma rollers in therapy: the transition from cosmetics to transdermal drug delivery

“…The use of microneedles is painless relative to the conventional hypodermic needles since they cannot penetrate the dermis layer (Azmana et al, 2020 ). Using microneedles also reduces trypanophobia (needle phobia) related to the use of hypodermic needles for parenteral delivery (Jamaledin et al, 2020 ). Dermatologists accept significant microneedling applications in the antiaging and reversal of wrinkles, and as a rejuvenating therapy for smooth and youthful-looking skin (Alster and Graham 2018 ; Ramaut et al 2018 ; Singh and Yadav 2016 ).…”