Microneedling-Assisted Drug Delivery

BACKGROUNDMicroneedling is gaining popularity in dermatologic practice to enhance transdermal drug delivery, yet key determinants of its efficacy-microneedle characteristics, drug properties, and the sequence of drug application-remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVEThe authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify factors affecting efficacy of microneedling-assisted drug delivery measured using biochemical (Franz diffusion studies) or visual (histology and advanced imaging) methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched through May 1, 2025. Data were abstracted on microneedling characteristics, treatment sequences, and drug characteristics. The authors performed a meta-analysis of Franz diffusion experiments to evaluate the efficacy and meta-regression to identify microneedle or drug factors influencing the efficacy.

RESULTSTwenty-nine articles were included. Microneedling enhances drug delivery (standard mean difference [95% confidence interval], 4.61 [2.99-6.24]). Delivery was greater for hydrophilic drugs (6.56 [2.28-10.85]) than for hydrophobic drugs (3.49 [2.43-4.56]) (p = .014). Longer needle lengths (≥500 μm; 5.96 [3.33-8.60] vs 2.77 [2.05-3.49] for <500 μm, p = .02) and drug application before microneedling (1.64 [1.00-2.28] vs 0.38 [-0.24 to 1.00] for drug after microneedling, p = .01) increased drug delivery.

CONCLUSIONClinicians should consider needle length, drug hydrophilicity, and treatment sequence to enhance microneedling-assisted drug delivery.

Abstract from PubMed