Sourcing Hotline
Researchers working at the University of North Carolina (in the USA) and Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (Hannover, Germany; www.lzh.de) have jointly developed a polymerization technology to create fine hollow needles that patients will not be able to feel penetrating the skin. Based on two-photon polymerization of organically modified ceramic hybrid materials, these microneedles can be clustered on a skin patch to deliver drugs or draw blood as efficiently as standard hypodermic needles while causing minimal discomfort.
These breakage-resistant hybrid needles can be fabricated in a range of sizes. They may be integrated with micropumps and biosensors to provide autonomous blood sampling and analysis and drug delivery in the treatment of chronic disease. For example, one needle, pump, and sensor might assay interstitial-fluid glucose in diabetes patients while another needle, pump, and drug-delivery unit could deliver insulin in a continuous or programmed manner.
