Octopus-Inspired Microneedle Patch with High Tissue Adhesion and Minimal Tissue Damage
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초록
내용
Microneedles (MNs), micro-scale transdermal drug delivery systems, offer several advantages in various medical and cosmetic applications, such as minimal invasiveness, pain-free delivery, and ease of use. However, the small size of MNs leads to low tissue adhesion, causing difficulties in their long-term use. Some MN patches mimic natural designs (e.g., honeybee stingers, eagle talons, and shark teeth) to enhance tissue adhesion through mechanical interlocking with the tissue's rough surface. However, the rough surface of MNs causes significant damage when pulling the MN out of the tissue. Here, we present a 3D-printed, octopus-inspired microneedle patch that shows high tissue adhesion and minimal tissue damage. Inspired by the suckers of octopuses, multiple suction cups are integrated around microneedles. The suction cups strongly adhere to the skin by creating a pressure difference rather than mechanical interlocking between the MNs and tissue, resulting in minimized tissue damage.