Why Microneedles Still Matter in Drug Delivery

Two men, Nick A. (left) and Nigel (right), sit at a white table, engaging in a lively and friendly conversation. Both wear checkered shirts and lavalier microphones, suggesting a filmed discussion or interview. Nick holds tissue samples in one hand and gestures animatedly, while Nigel smiles in response. Each has a white mug labeled with their name and a purple star logo. The background is a bright white, creating a clean and professional studio setting.
Resources

Why Microneedles Still Matter in Drug Delivery

Topic: Bio Break

In this episode of Bio Break, Nigel and Nick explore microneedle drug delivery—a growing field in medtech that aims to improve patient comfort and treatment compliance. While the term “microneedles” may sound futuristic, this technology has been around for years. The goal? Deliver medicine through the skin with less pain, less fear, and fewer barriers to care.

What Is Microneedle Drug Delivery?

Microneedles are tiny structures, often as small as a human hair, that can puncture the skin’s outer layer to administer medication. Some dissolve into the skin, while others act as miniature hollow syringes. Unlike traditional injections, microneedle drug delivery can avoid deeper nerve endings—meaning less pain for the patient.

Advantages Over Traditional Injections

The key benefit of microneedles is improved patient compliance. Many people skip essential treatments due to needle anxiety. By minimizing discomfort, microneedles make it easier for patients to stick with treatment plans. This approach could be especially useful for vaccines, hormone therapies, or chronic care where regular administration is needed.

Limitations and Drug Compatibility

Not all medications are suitable for microneedle delivery. Larger molecules may not pass through the tiny channels or could be damaged by shear forces. Product developers must consider drug formulation, molecule size, and delivery speed when selecting this method.

Future Outlook and Applications

Microneedle drug delivery has potential in both consumer health and clinical use, but widespread adoption depends on finding scalable applications. The technology continues to evolve, particularly in pairing with biologics and nanoparticles.

Learn more about StarFish Medical.

Jet Injector Drug Delivery - A gloved hand holds a syringe angled upward on a white background. A red dashed arrow curves upward from the syringe needle, pointing to empty space. Large black text on the left reads “Outdated?” suggesting a question about the relevance or currency of syringe-based technology.

Jet Injector Drug Delivery: Promise and Pitfalls

Nick and Nigel dive into the world of jet injector drug delivery. This needle-free method, made popular in science fiction and real-world vaccines, is still used today.

Split image showing two close-up views of a human eye. On the left, the eye is seen through thick black-framed glasses, indicating impaired vision. On the right, the same eye is enhanced with a futuristic digital overlay of concentric circles and interface elements, suggesting advanced vision restoration technology. A red curved arrow points from left to right, implying improvement. Bold text at the top reads "Restoring Vision?"

Accommodative Intraocular Lens Technology Explained

Ariana and Mark explore how accommodative intraocular lens technology may one day restore natural vision for people who require cataract surgery or suffer from presbyopia. As Mark shares, traditional bifocals are not ideal, and new lens solutions may offer better outcomes.

A hand holds an iPhone on the left side of the image, with a red curved arrow pointing to a sleek, futuristic medical device shaped like a handheld drill on the right. Above the arrow, a black box with white bold text reads, “Make it like Apple?”.

Apple Design Influence in MedTech Product Development

Learn more about StarFish Medical.

Cupping therapy on a person's back with six transparent suction cups applied to the skin. A bold text reads 'This is the future!' with a large red arrow pointing toward the cups. The background is minimal and white.

Injection Pain Reduction with Suction: A Simple Solution

Nick and Nigel explore a surprising approach to injection pain reduction using suction technology. What started as an unusual product order at StarFish Medical led to important insights on improving patient comfort during injections.