3D-printed microneedle patch for skin cancer
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Aug 23, 2026 · Last updated Aug 23, 2026
This breakthrough could reduce the need for invasive procedures and improve patient compliance in skin cancer treatment, potentially benefiting pharmaceutical and medical device companies. However, as an early-stage academic development, its immediate market impact is limited, with commercialization likely years away.
Researchers at Queen s University Belfast have developed a dissolvable 3D-printed microneedle patch for the targeted delivery of two anti-cancer drugs, curcumin and 5-fluorouracil, to treat localized skin cancer. The patch's microneedles penetrate the outer skin layer without drawing blood and dissolve after application, offering a minimally invasive, patient-friendly alternative to repeated topical treatments or injections. The one-step 3D-printing method embeds the drugs directly into the microneedles, enabling better skin penetration, higher drug loading, and controlled two-stage release. The research, led by PhD student Rutuja N. Meshram and Professor Dimitrios A. Lamprou, was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials and supported by the Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in India — Maharashtra, India. The team believes this technology could extend to vaccines and other drug delivery applications.
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