A bio-inspired swellable microneedle adhesive for mechanical interlocking with tissue
Seung Yun Yang1, Eoin D O'Cearbhaill, Geoffroy C Sisk
1Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Nature Communications
|April 18, 2013
Summary
Inspired by parasites, a novel microneedle array offers strong, minimally damaging soft tissue adhesion. This breakthrough technology improves on staples and chemical adhesives for medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Medical Device Innovation
Background:
- Current soft tissue adhesion methods like chemical adhesives and staples present significant clinical challenges, including inflammation, infection, and tissue damage.
- There is a critical need for advanced adhesion systems that provide strong tissue fixation with minimal adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel biphasic microneedle array inspired by the endoparasite Pomphorhynchus laevis for enhanced soft tissue adhesion.
- To compare the adhesion strength and tissue interaction of the microneedle array against conventional fixation methods.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of conical microneedles with a swellable poly(styrene)-block-poly(acrylic acid) tip and a non-swellable polystyrene core.
- Mechanical testing of microneedle adhesion strength in skin graft fixation and removal force from intestinal mucosal tissue.
- Assessment of tissue damage and inflammatory response post-application and removal.
Main Results:
- The microneedle array demonstrated approximately 3.5-fold increased adhesion strength compared to staples in skin graft fixation.
- Achieved a removal force of approximately 4.5 N cm(-2) from intestinal mucosal tissue.
- Microneedles achieved secure adhesion through mechanical interlocking via swellable tips with minimal insertion force and depth.
Conclusions:
- The developed biphasic microneedle array offers a promising solution for universal soft tissue adhesion with superior strength and reduced tissue damage.
- This technology presents advantages over existing methods, including less traumatic removal, reduced infection risk, and potential for bioactive therapeutic delivery.
