Biomimetic Microneedles Provide New Strategies For Oral Topical Administration

Oral mucosal drug delivery offers rapid onset, high bioavailability, and minimal invasiveness but faces challenges from salivary-induced drug loss and mucus barriers. Inspired by marine organisms, this study develops biomimetic microneedle patches for targeted oral drug delivery. These patches counteract salivary interference and enhance controlled drug release within tissues, improving therapeutic efficacy and expanding applications for localized treatment. The microneedle comprises a composite hydrogel of photocurable silk fibroin, poloxamer, and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) or modified photocurable polycaprolactone triol. The suction cup features photocurable poloxamer and bioadhesive-modified polyphenols, while the payload contains a photocurable heparin-hyaluronic acid-phenol red copolymer. Using high-precision DLP manufacturing, a combination of direct and multiple-transfer indirect printing enables the fabrication of biomimetic microneedles with ultra-microstructures for targeted drug delivery. This project developed biomimetic microneedle patches inspired by marine organisms for oral mucosal drug delivery. The blue-ringed octopus-inspired microneedle features a temperature-responsive system that initially delivers a high drug dose for rapid effect before transitioning to sustained release. Its biomimetic suction cup enhances adhesion in moist environments. This system successfully delivered dexamethasone for oral ulcers, reducing healing time by 40%. Additionally, spiny coral-inspired hollow microneedles, loaded with pH-sensitive hydrogel, enable real-time infection monitoring and controlled antibacterial release, offering a promising approach for diagnosing and treating occult infections. Leveraging advanced DLP manufacturing and biomimetic design, these biomimetic microneedle patches enable stable and targeted drug release in moist environments, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of oral localized drug administration.