Introduction The administration of drugs at specific acupoints is a traditional practice in Chinese medicine, yet scientific evidence supporting its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) advantages remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the transdermal absorption and therapeutic effects of miRNA55 when delivered via microneedles at different acupoints in a rabbit model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods An RA model was established in New Zealand rabbits using ovalbumin-Freund’s c