Blue-ringed octopus-inspired microneedle patch for robust tissue surface adhesion and active injection drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomimetic engineering
• Drug delivery systems
• Materials science

Background:

• Intratissue topical medication is crucial for treating various diseases but faces challenges in drug delivery and adhesion.
• Existing methods struggle to penetrate surface barriers effectively and maintain drug release control in bodily fluids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an advanced microneedle patch for enhanced intratissue topical drug delivery inspired by the blue-ringed octopus.
• To achieve controllable, on-demand drug release and secure adhesion in wet conditions for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of active injection microneedles mimicking blue-ringed octopus teeth and venom secretion.
• Incorporation of temperature-sensitive hydrophobic and shrinkage properties for on-demand drug release (early and long-term stages).
• Development of bionic suction cups for robust microneedle adhesion (>10 kPa) in wet environments.

Main Results:

• The microneedle patch demonstrated effective intratissue drug delivery with dual-stage release kinetics.
• Bionic suction cups ensured strong adhesion, overcoming challenges in wet bodily fluids.
• The system showed significant efficacy in accelerating ulcer healing and halting early tumor progression.

Conclusions:

• The octopus-inspired microneedle patch offers a promising solution for challenging intratissue topical drug delivery applications.
• This biomimetic approach provides controllable, sustained drug release and reliable adhesion, improving treatment effectiveness for cutaneous, mucosal, and splanchnic diseases.