The last time we talked about a 3D printed patch, we said it could provide greater protection than a typical vaccine shot. That application made a real splash as it was led by Carbon’s founder, Joseph M. DeSimone.
We never knew if that application followed the commercialization route. However, we recently learned that researchers from Queen’s University Belfast developed a dissolvable 3D-printed patch that could help improve treatment for localized skin cancer.
According to Professor Dimitrios A. Lamprou, who led the research, “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.”
The one-step 3D-printing method.
A one-step 3D-printing method leveraged by the research team allowed them to add both compounds, curcumin and 5-fluorouracil, directly into a printable resin before making the microneedle patch.
Unlike previous approaches, which coated drugs onto pre-made microneedles, this technique blends the drugs directly into the microneedles during the manufacturing stage. This enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, and a controlled two-stage release with potential for future personalised treatment, the team explains.
Editorial clarification — 25 September 2026. The paper reports laboratory and ex vivo tests. It did not include dedicated biological safety or therapeutic efficacy testing. The study therefore does not establish clinical benefit in patients. Source.
The researchers believe this approach could support the development of next-generation medicine delivery technologies including vaccines and other life-saving drugs.
The complete study can be read in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
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