Work

Early Insights into AI and Machine Learning Applications in Hydrogel Microneedles: A Short Review

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) serve as critical facilitators in the domain of biomedical innovation, notably enhancing the development of technologies such as microneedles, hydrogels, biosensors, and advanced drug delivery systems. Although numerous review papers have reported the application of AI/ML under highly specific areas such as materials, drug delivery or pharmaceutical formulations, but comprehensive review of AI/ML's implementation across these interconnected technological domains remain limited. Addressing this gap, the present umbrella review analyse insights from 27 peer-reviewed articles spanning from 2023 to 2025, offering a consolidated perspective on the role of AI/ML across these critical biomedical fields. We synthesize AI/ML findings aggregated from multiple reviews at macro-level, which are classified into five thematic clusters, and finally condensed into curated summary tables for comparative analysis. The collected findings are systematically categorized under five unique thematic groupings, namely: (1) material and microneedle design, (2) microneedles for diagnostics and therapy, (3) microneedles for drug delivery and (4)microneedles for drug development and (5) microneedles sensors for health and agriculture. These thematic groupings aim to cluster and connect domain-specific knowledge, merge multi-disciplinary viewpoints and summarize key shortcomings and contributions based on their focus areas. Thematic analysis elucidates how AI/ML approaches in microneedle research progressed over time, compares AI/ML algorithmic technqiues, performance metrics and application outcomes, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, across multiple studies. Finally, this review incorporates a novel developmental framework “AIM-DO” (AI-driven Microneedle Design Optimization) which aim to guide and accelerate adoption of AI/ML strategies structured under five strategic pillars: (1) material discovery and optimization, (2) structural and mechanical design, (3) manufacturing process optimization, (4) biomedical applications and performance enhancement, and (5) advanced AI integration. Together, these pillars provide a roadmap for promoting AI-driven innovation and fostering the next generation of hydrogel microneedles through cross-domain synergy and structured translational pathways.

Source: Micro

DOI: 10.3390/micro5040048

Authors: Janna Urifa, Kwok Wei Shah

Institutions: Bandung Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore

Language: English

Topic: Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery

Subfield: Pharmaceutical Science

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207