The powerful and intriguing idea that drives the emerging technology of microneedles—shrinking the standard needle to a micron scale—has fostered an entire field of microneedle study and subsequent exponential growth in research and product development. Originally enabled by microfabrication tools derived from the microelectronic industry, microneedles are now produced through a number of methods in a variety of forms including solid, coated, dissolvable, and hollow microneedles. They are used to deliver a broad spectrum of molecules, including small molecules, biomolecules, and vaccines, as well as various forms of energy into the skin, eye, and other tissues. Microneedles are also being exploited for use in diagnostics, as well as additional medical, cosmetic, and other applications. This review elucidates the relative roles of different aspects of microneedle technology development, as shown through scientific papers, patents, clinical studies, and internet/social media activity. Considering >1000 papers, 750 patents, and almost 80 clinical trials, we analyze different attributes of microneedles such as usage of microneedles, types of microneedles, testing environment, types of patent claims, and phases of clinical trials, as well as which institutions and people in academia and industry from different locations and in different journals are publishing, patenting, and otherwise studying the potential of microneedles. We conclude that there is robust and growing activity in the field of microneedles; the technology is rapidly developing and being used for novel applications to benefit human health and well-being.

推动新兴微针技术——将标准针头缩小到微米级——的强大而有趣的想法促进了整个微针研究领域的发展，随后研究和产品开发呈指数级增长。最初由源自微电子行业的微加工工具启用，现在通过多种方法以各种形式生产微针，包括实心、涂层、可溶解和空心微针。它们用于向皮肤、眼睛和其他组织输送多种分子，包括小分子、生物分子和疫苗，以及各种形式的能量。微针也被用于诊断以及其他医疗、美容和其他应用。本综述阐明了微针技术发展不同方面的相对作用，如科学论文、专利、临床研究和互联网/社交媒体活动所示。考虑>1000篇论文、750项专利和近80项临床试验，我们分析了微针的不同属性，例如微针的用途、微针类型、测试环境、专利权利要求类型和临床试验阶段，以及哪些机构和来自不同地点和不同期刊的学术界和工业界人士正在出版、申请专利和以其他方式研究微针的潜力。我们得出的结论是，微针领域的活动强劲且不断增长；该技术正在迅速发展并被用于新的应用，以造福人类的健康和福祉。