Queen's University Belfast 3D Prints Dissolvable Microneedle Patch for Skin Cancer

A pair of researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a dissolvable 3D-printed microneedle patch designed to improve treatment for localized skin cancer. The patch delivers anti-cancer drugs curcumin and 5-fluorouracil directly to the affected area, bypassing the need for repeated topical applications or injections.

The team, led by Professor Dimitrios A. Lamprou, Chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing, took a different approach from previous microneedle work. Instead of coating pre-made needles with drugs, they blended the medications directly into a printable resin and then printed the microneedle arrays in a single DLP step. That method produces higher drug loading, better skin penetration, and a controlled two-stage drug release.

The microneedles pass through the outer layer of skin without drawing blood, delivering treatment precisely where it is needed. Because the needles dissolve after application, the system also reduces needle-stick injury risk and cuts down on medical sharps waste.

Rutuja N. Meshram, the PhD student who carried out the work, said the findings point toward a future where medicines and vaccines can be delivered in ways that are less painful and more acceptable to patients than traditional injections. The research was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Skin cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Current treatments often require repeated clinic visits or cause significant side effects. If the patch moves into clinical use, it could make treatment simpler for patients and less burdensome for healthcare providers.