Background: Microneedles (MNs) are the utmost unique, efficient, and minimally invasive inventions in the pharmaceutical field. Over the past decades, many scientists around the globe have reported MNs cautious because of their superb future in distinct areas. Concerning the wise use of MNs herein, we deal in depth with the present applications of MNs in drug delivery.Main text: The present review comprises various fabrication materials and methods used for MN synthesis. The article also noted the distinctive advantages of these MNs, which holds huge potential for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The role of MNs in serving as a platform to treat various ailments has been explained accompanied by unusual approaches. The review also inculcates the pharmacokinetics of MNs, which includes permeation, absorption, and bioavailability enhancement. Besides this, the in vitro/in vivo toxicity, biosafety, and marketed product of MNs have been reviewed. We have also discussed the clinical trials and patents on the pharmaceutical applications of MNs in brief.Conclusion: To sum up, this article gives insight into the MNs and provides a recent advancement in MNs, which pave the pathway for future pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.Graphical Pharmaceutical and biomedical applications of MNs

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), impressive materials with enormous future potential, are reviewed from their inception, including different precursors. Considering the increasing burden of industrial and ecological bio-waste, there is an urgency to develop techniques which will convert biowaste into active moieties of interest. Amongst the various materials explored, we selectively highlight the use of potential carbon containing bioprecursors (e.g. plant-based, amino acids, carbohydrates), and industrial waste and its conversion into GQDs with negligible use of chemicals. This review focuses on the effects of different processing parameters that affect the properties of GQDs, including the surface functionalization, paradigmatic characterization, toxicity and biocompatibility issues of bioprecursor derived GQDs. This review also examines current challenges and s the ongoing exploration of potential bioprecursors for ecofriendly GQD synthesis for future applications. This review sheds further light on the electronic and optical properties of GQDs along with the effects of doping on the same. This review may aid in future design approaches and applications of GQDs in the biomedical and materials design fields.

Background: Scientists are constantly looking for the introduction of unique drug delivery systems for the existing drug molecule. Since the skin is one of the primary and essential organs of the human body, it needs successful research development for the delivery of the drug. While the skin is assumed a human body’s multifunctional organ, it has minimal permeability across the stratum corneum (SC). Since this is an influential barrier for the active agent, several carrier platforms to surmount this obstacle have been created. Invasomes are the liposomal vesicles, which incorporate small quantities of ethanol and terpenes or a mixture of terpenes, as potentials for improved penetration of the skin. The rate of penetration of invasomes through the skin is significantly greater than that of liposomes and ethosomes. Invasomes focus on providing a series of benefits namely enhanced drug effectiveness, increased conformity, and ease for patients. Main body: The present article portrays insights of invasomes which include composition and preparation methods of invasomes. The article gives a brief review of the penetration mechanism, synthesis process, and characterizations of invasomes. The article gives a point by point audit about pharmaceutical applications, viz. anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-acne, vitamin analog, anticholinergic, antioxidant, etc. The pharmacokinetic properties of invasomes have also been described. Conclusion: The key goal of an invasome-based delivery system is not only to strengthen the efficacy and safety of the drug but also to dramatically increase patient conformity and the therapeutic value to a significant extent. The delivery of drugs via the skin membrane in advanced drug delivery systems is a fascinating fact. Many pharmaceutical studies have shown that plentiful drug molecules are less soluble, have less bioavailability and stability, have less penetration, etc. Therefore, a new form of dosage with exceptional characteristics like invasomes can be created. Graphical

Background and purpose: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained incredible consideration in the biomedical field due to their flexible structural configuration, tunable pore size and tailorable surface modification. These inherent characteristics of MOFs portray numerous merits as potential drug carriers, depicting improved drug loading, site-specific drug delivery, biocompatibility, biodegradability, etc. Review approach: The current review article sheds light on the synthesis and use of MOFs in drug delivery applications. In the beginning, a brief overview of the key components and efficient fabrication techniques for MOF synthesis, along with its characterization methods, have been presented. The MOFs-based formulations have been critically discussed. The application of the design of experiments (DoE) approach to optimize MOFs has been elucidated. The MOFs-based formulations, especially the application of stimuli-responsive MOFs for site-specific drug delivery, have been deciphered. Along with drug release kinetic models, several administration methods for MOFs have also been enunciated. Subsequently, MOFs as future potential drug carriers have been elaborated. Key results and conclusion: Recently, MOFs have emerged as versatile drug delivery carriers possessing customization potential and meeting the needs of spatio-temporal drug delivery. Researchers have devised several environment-friendly approaches for MOF construction and surface modification. Owing to stimuli-responsive potential, MOFs have demonstrated their prominent therapeutic efficacy via several routes of administration. The numerous benefits of MOFs would certainly open up a new vista for its novel drug delivery applications.