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

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.

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

Dual-Modal Phototherapeutic Nanoagents Eradicating Drug-Resistant Bacteria via Multi-Pathway of Membrane Disruption, Oxidative Damage, and Energy Metabolism Interference.

Advanced healthcare materials·2026

Same author

Biomimetic Design of Amide-Phosphate Functionalized TEMPO Catholyte for High-Performance Nonaqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same author

Machine-Learning Microfluidic Minute-Scale Microorganism Metrics Monitoring(M6).

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Nondestructive tracking of viral infections by viral protein-initiated fluorescent sensors.

Journal of virology·2026

Same author

Microwave thermal supercharging therapy enables selective tumor ablation via low-power radio frequency-responsive nanotopographies.

Bioactive materials·2026

Same author

Artificial intelligence-powered nanomedicine.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Published on: July 12, 2024

Microorganism microneedle micro-engine depth drug delivery.

Bin Zheng^1,2, Qiuya Li³, Laiping Fang⁴

¹Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. binzheng@tju.edu.cn.

Nature Communications

|October 16, 2024

Summary

This study introduces a novel microneedle patch powered by live bacteria (Enterobacter aerogenes) to actively control drug delivery. This microorganism-powered system enhances drug penetration depth and offers precise, on-demand transdermal delivery.

More Related Videos

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Published on: November 17, 2015

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Published on: June 1, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability

Published on: July 12, 2024

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Polymeric Microneedle Array Fabrication by Photolithography

Published on: November 17, 2015

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing

Published on: June 1, 2012

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Drug Delivery Systems
Microbiology

Background:

Transdermal drug delivery via microneedles offers minimally invasive treatment.
Current microneedle technology relies on passive diffusion, limiting drug penetration control.
Uncontrolled drug diffusion restricts therapeutic efficacy and depth.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an active microneedle system for controlled transdermal drug delivery.
To utilize live microorganisms as microengines for enhanced drug penetration.
To investigate precise control over drug delivery depth using a pneumatic microneedle patch.

Main Methods:

Development of a pneumatic microneedle patch incorporating live Enterobacter aerogenes.
Utilizing microbial gas generation to drive drug delivery into deeper tissues.
Adjusting glucose concentration to modulate microbial activity and control delivery depth.

Main Results:

The microorganism-powered microneedle system achieved over 200% increase in drug delivery depth.
Drug penetration reached depths up to 1000 micrometers below the skin.
Effective subcutaneous delivery of calcitriol in a psoriasis animal model, leading to rapid symptom relief.

Conclusions:

This novel system overcomes limitations of passive diffusion in microneedle technology.
Microorganism-powered microneedles enable enhanced drug delivery efficiency and transdermal permeability.
This innovation presents a new paradigm for on-demand, controlled transdermal drug delivery.