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Review
. 2025 Mar 27;87(4):2059-2067.
doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003060. eCollection 2025 Apr.

Advancements in vaccine delivery: harnessing 3D printing for microneedle patch technology

Namrata Bhadouria  1 , Shikha Yadav  1 , Sarad Pawar Naik Bukke  2 , Bayapa Reddy Narapureddy  3
Affiliations
Review

Advancements in vaccine delivery: harnessing 3D printing for microneedle patch technology

Namrata Bhadouria et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

The development of 3D-printed microneedle (MN) technology is a significant step in vaccine delivery, providing a painless, effective, and adaptable substitute for conventional injection-based techniques. Direct transdermal vaccination distribution without the need for needles is made possible by microneedle patches, which employ a variety of tiny needles that dissolve when they penetrate the skin. By using 3D printing to precisely customise microneedles' size, shape, and density to meet particular vaccine requirements, administration control can be improved and vaccine efficiency may even be increased. Furthermore, rapid prototyping made possible by 3D printing speeds up the development process, enabling quicker testing and improvement of vaccines. Additionally, this scalable technology can greatly increase vaccine accessibility, particularly in environments with limited resources. Research indicates that by directly interacting with the skin's immune-rich layers, microneedle patches enhance antigen delivery and elicit a strong immune response. Because MN technology offers a useful, self-administrable vaccination approach with little waste, it has significant potential for use in public health applications, notably during pandemics. This study emphasises how 3D-printed microneedle patches have the potential to revolutionise vaccination procedures and increase vaccine accessibility globally.

Keywords: 3D printing; Transdermal Immunization; drug delivery systems; microneedle patches; transdermal immunization; vaccine delivery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article. The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Traditional drug delivery route and vaccination method.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
3D printed microneedle technique.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Solid microneedle delivers vaccine.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Different types of microneedles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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