A groundbreaking microneedle skin patch has been developed by a team of scientists at the University of Bath, offering an affordable and painless method for delivering controlled doses of medicine directly into the body.
This innovation holds the potential to replace injections and oral medications.
The microneedle patches, described in the journal Biomaterials Advances, are designed to encapsulate the active ingredient within hydrogel microneedles.
This approach eliminates the need for separate drug reservoirs and enhances affordability through 3D printing technology.
The patches are smaller than a pound coin and use hydrophilic (water-attracting) microneedles to deliver medicine upon contact with fluid beneath the skin.
A Unique Approach to Drug Delivery
What sets these microneedle patches apart is their use of hydrogel microneedles that encapsulate the medicine.
Unlike other commercially available patches, these patches don’t rely on separate drug reservoirs, making them more cost-effective.
Additionally, the molds for producing these patches are created through 3D printing, offering customization capabilities that further reduce costs.
Painless Drug Delivery
The microneedles in these patches are designed to painlessly penetrate the first layers of skin. Upon contact with fluid beneath the skin’s surface, the microneedles swell, facilitating the controlled release of the drug into the body.
Experiments conducted at the University of Bath demonstrated the effectiveness of these patches in delivering antibiotic doses that combat bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus, known to cause serious infections.
Benefits Over Traditional Methods
Dr. Hannah Leese, a chemical engineer at the University of Bath, emphasizes that microneedle-based skin patches offer several advantages over traditional drug delivery methods.
Injections can be invasive, expensive, and unsuitable for individuals who are needle-phobic or have thin skin.
Moreover, injections carry a risk of introducing pathogens that can lead to infections, particularly in those with weakened immune systems.
On the other hand, oral medications can have gastrointestinal side effects, delays in reaching the target site, higher required doses due to gut breakdown, and contribute to antimicrobial drug resistance.
Promising Future and Versatile Applications
Dr. Leese and her team are optimistic about the future of these microneedle patches. They envision the patches being ready for patient use within the next five to ten years.
These patches have the potential to deliver drugs that circulate throughout the body as well as drugs requiring localized delivery, such as for skin infections.
Additionally, they can be used for vaccine delivery and monitoring hormone levels.
Beyond healthcare, there may also be applications in health and wellness, such as using microneedles under smartwatches to detect stress hormone fluctuations.
In conclusion, the development of microneedle skin patches represents a significant advancement in drug delivery technology, offering a pain-free and cost-effective alternative to injections and oral medications.
The potential impact on healthcare and patient convenience is substantial, with applications ranging from treating infections to monitoring health parameters.
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The research findings can be found in Biomaterials Advances.
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