Transdermal insulin delivery via microneedle technology, patches, and pumps offers a promising alternative to traditional subcutaneous injections for diabetes management

Transdermal insulin delivery offers a promising alternative to traditional subcutaneous injections, providing a pain-free and self-administrable treatment option for diabetes management. Microneedle technology has emerged as a viable approach, leveraging tiny needle-like projections to bypass the stratum corneum and deliver insulin systemically. Various materials, including metal, silicon, ceramic, polymer, and silica glass, are being explored for microneedle fabrication. This review discusses the anatomy of skin, pathways of drug absorption, and advantages of transdermal drug delivery systems, including microneedle arrays, patches, and pumps. The potential of microneedles to replace subcutaneous insulin injections is highlighted, along with the importance of ensuring precise drug release and addressing challenges related to skin irritation, drug stability, and scalability.