Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have developed a one-step 3D-printed patch featuring tiny dissolvable microneedles that deliver anti-cancer drugs directly through the outer layer of skin. The innovation aims to replace painful traditional injections and repeated topical treatments for localised skin cancer.
Skin cancer remains a major public health concern. Traditional treatments frequently require invasive procedures, repeated topical applications, or methods that trigger unwanted side effects and patient discomfort.
To bypass these barriers, a research team from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast engineered a specialised delivery system. The research was conducted by final-year PhD student Rutuja N. Meshram alongside Professor Dimitrios A. Lamprou, who serves as the chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing at the university.
Engineering a One-Step 3D-Printed Patch for Targeted Delivery
Previous approaches to microneedle creation typically involved coating drugs onto pre-made structures. The Belfast team broke from that convention by formulating a novel, one-step 3D-printing technique that blends anti-cancer medications directly into a printable resin during the manufacturing stage before shaping the patch.
This method allows the tiny microneedles to pass through the outermost layer of the skin without drawing blood. The small patch carries two distinct anti-cancer medications, curcumin and 5-fluorouracil, designed for potential use in patients dealing with localised skin cancer.
By embedding the pharmaceutical compounds directly into the resin matrix, the manufacturing process achieves higher drug loading, improved skin penetration, and a controlled two-stage release profile tailored to individual patient needs according to the researchers.
Patient Comfort and Reduced Medical Waste
Medical innovation often focuses on efficacy, but patient adherence relies heavily on tolerability. The research team designed the dissolvable microneedle architecture specifically to mitigate patient anxiety and physical discomfort associated with standard needle injections.
“Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and current treatments often require repeated topical applications, invasive procedures, or can cause unwanted side effects. Many people also experience fear, discomfort, or inconvenience when treatments involve needles and injections. Minimally invasive microneedle systems that dissolve after application could provide a more patient-friendly, simpler and less painful way to deliver cancer medicines. Because the microneedles dissolve after use, they may also help reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries and decrease medical sharps waste.”
Professor Dimitrios A. Lamprou, Queen’s University Belfast
Because the needles dissolve safely into the tissue after administration, healthcare providers also benefit from a lowered risk of accidental needle-stick injuries alongside a reduction in overall medical sharps waste.
Broader Implications for Personalised Medicine
Beyond immediate applications in oncology, the underlying manufacturing technique points toward a broader evolution in how pharmaceuticals are administered across clinical medicine. Advanced fabrication methods are beginning to reshape therapeutic delivery by increasing precision and supporting patient-focused care models.
“Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D-printing are helping reshape the future of medicine by enabling more precise drug delivery and supporting personalised, patient-friendly healthcare. Our findings point to a future where medicines and vaccines can be delivered in ways that are less painful, easier to use, and more acceptable to patients than traditional injections. In time, this research could support the development of more personalised treatments and safer, more accessible healthcare technologies.”
Rutuja N. Meshram, PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast
