Biomedical researchers at Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering and the University of São Paulo have developed dissolvable microneedles designed to treat skin cancer and other light-responsive conditions. The technology offers a painless, scar-free alternative to invasive surgery by delivering therapeutic drugs and redistributing light beneath the skin.
The microneedles are biodegradable and biocompatible, with each needle only a few times wider than a human hair. According to the research team, conventional light-based treatments often fail because light scatters and fades when it encounters human skin, preventing it from reaching diseased tissue.
Similarly, standard drug delivery methods may not precisely target the affected area or deliver medication where it can be activated by light. The new microneedles address these limitations by guiding light deeper into skin lesions while simultaneously delivering therapeutic agents.
The study was led by Dr. Michelle Requena, a postdoctoral researcher in biomedical engineering, and Dr. Vanderlei Bagnato, a distinguished professor of biomedical engineering at Texas A&M. The findings were published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics.
The research was supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, the Chancellor’s Research Initiative, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
