Engineered Microneedle Patches for Controlled Release of Active Compounds: Recent Advances in Release Profile Tuning

Transdermal microneedle patches have attracted significant attention in the medical arena over the last decade as alternatives to traditional drug delivery methods. Microneedle patches are capable of delivering their payloads using burst- and sustained-release mechanisms, or in response to internal/external triggers, to optimize their therapeutic potency. Herein, drug release mechanisms and profiles are reviewed, along with the impact of the cargo release on cytotoxicity and delivery efficacy. The potential applications of microneedles in transdermal treatment, from prophylaxis to therapeutics, are also highlighted.