Recent advances in microneedles for tumor therapy and diagnosis

Abstract Microneedles (MNs) as an efficient transdermal delivery tool have been widely developed in various fields due to their unique micro-tip structures and effective topical administration. In particular, there is a growing interest in oncology applications by MNs, which could realize convenient and effective tumor therapy and diagnosis through the corresponding design and manufacture of MNs, and eventually achieve the goal of better serving patients. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in MNs for tumor therapy, including MN-assisted chemotherapy, MN-assisted photothermal therapy, MN-assisted photodynamic therapy, MN-assisted gene therapy, MN-assisted immunotherapy, as well as some MN-assisted combination therapies, and also highlight the recent progress of MNs for tumor detection and diagnosis based on MN-assisted sampling devices and biosensors. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for the development of MNs for tumor therapy and diagnosis are discussed. It is highly expected that the well-designed MN system will become an attractive device for efficient treatment or diagnosis of tumors and contribute to the goal of combating tumors.