Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) enable the controlled release of drugs across the skin into systemic circulation. They are particularly advantageous for drugs with short half-lives or narrow therapeutic indices, as they maintain consistent plasma concentrations and reduce the risk of subtherapeutic or toxic levels.TDDS are categorized into monolithic, reservoir, and mixed systems. Monolithic systems embed the drug in a polymer matrix, where diffusion governs release. Reservoir systems...

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

Stimuli-activated drug delivery systems are designed to release drugs in response to specific physical, chemical, or biological stimuli. These systems often utilize hydrogels—three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer networks capable of swelling in aqueous environments and retaining significant fluid volumes. Upon exposure to particular stimuli, these hydrogels undergo structural transitions that allow the embedded drug to be released. Due to this adaptive behavior, such systems are also...

Sensory Functions of the Skin

Sensory Functions of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own...

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection, and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Finger-stick glucose testing as an institutional stressor: Staff perspectives from long-term care.

Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association·2026

Same author

Bioresponsive microneedle stent provides anastomosis and postoperative adjuvant therapy in preclinical resectable intestinal diseases.

Science translational medicine·2026

Same author

A study on cable current detection for new energy charging stations based on TMR sensor arrays.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

UV-Driven Degradation of Amantadine over a Photodeposited Pt/TiO<sub>2</sub> Porous Ceramic Composite and Transformation Pathways.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·2026

Same author

Pharmacokinetics of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir after Multiple Administration in a Phase 1, Open-Label Study in Healthy Chinese Adults and Compared with Non-Chinese Participants.

Clinical drug investigation·2026

Same author

Electroactive microneedle augmented stem cell therapy in myocardial infarction.

Science advances·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Published on: June 1, 2012

Bioresponsive transcutaneous patches.

Jicheng Yu¹, Yuqi Zhang¹, Anna R Kahkoska²

¹Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

|March 16, 2017

Summary

Bioresponsive microneedle patches offer smart, on-demand drug delivery by responding to internal body signals like pH and glucose. This technology presents a promising alternative to injections for precise therapeutic applications.

More Related Videos

Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management

Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management

Published on: September 2, 2015

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Published on: July 22, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Published on: June 1, 2012

Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management

Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management

Published on: September 2, 2015

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Published on: July 22, 2022

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Drug Delivery Systems
Nanotechnology

Background:

Transdermal drug delivery systems using microneedles are gaining traction as a less invasive alternative to hypodermic injections.
Recent research emphasizes bioresponsive patches that release medication based on internal physiological cues.
These smart patches aim for on-demand, precise drug administration.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in bioresponsive transcutaneous patches for smart drug delivery.
To explore the utilization of physiological signals (pH, glucose, enzymes) for on-demand drug release.
To discuss the clinical potential, challenges, and opportunities of these innovative devices.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent research on bioresponsive microneedle patches.
Analysis of systems utilizing physiological signals like pH, serum glucose, and enzyme activity.
Discussion of clinical translation and future prospects.

Main Results:

Significant progress has been made in developing microneedle patches that respond to specific physiological signals.
These bioresponsive systems enable precise and on-demand drug delivery, tailored to individual patient needs.
Various physiological markers are being effectively leveraged to trigger drug release.

Conclusions:

Bioresponsive transcutaneous microneedle patches represent a significant innovation in drug delivery.
These smart systems offer a promising, minimally invasive alternative to traditional injections.
Further research and development are crucial to overcome challenges and realize the full clinical potential.