<p>Microneedles (MNs) represent a groundbreaking technology for minimally invasive, transdermal delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Inspired by natural structures such as snake fangs, mosquito proboscises, honeybee stingers, and octopus’ suckers, bioinspired MNs have evolved to overcome limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. This review comprehensively explores the design principles, material innovations, and applications of bioinspired MNs, with a special focus on their fabrication using advanced 3D and 4D printing technologies. These smart microneedles exhibit exceptional mechanical strength, enhanced tissue adhesion, and stimuli-responsive behaviour, making them ideal for chronic disease management, wound healing, biosensing, and personalized medicine. Furthermore, the review highlights emerging strategies in adaptive microneedle design, including shape-morphing capabilities and targeted delivery enabled by environmental triggers such as pH, temperature, glucose, and reactive oxygen species. Overall, the integration of bioinspired design with additive manufacturing platforms paves the way for next-generation MNs systems with translational potential in clinical and biomedical settings.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>