Bioinspiration - Microneedles Make Shots Painless
//Shot-phobia//
I’ve never been a fan of getting shots. They have been necessary over the years but there’s something about needles that really makes me want to turn the other way and get it over with as soon as possible. Getting vaccinations and other administered drugs can be a varying experience depending on the person administering the needle into your arm or other area. I have had a couple of uncomfortable experiences, while it’s not something I am particularly afraid of, I understand why children cry when getting their shots done. It hurts and the thought of a sharp long needle piercing the body amplifies the pain factor. Barb needles are an interesting invention in the medical field that may see traction in the coming years as they propose to be a painless experience.
//Microneedle Bio-inspiration//
With a new vaccination in the works, it may be a fitting time to reinvent needles altogether. 4D printing is at the core of the barb needle’s production, a process that is similar to 3D Printing but allows further transformation using other energy sources over time for an extra dimension. Microneedle (MN) technology is truly interesting and one of the most fascinating aspects of this project is its origin of inspiration. Researchers identified the shortcomings of current MN solutions and identified that nature had its own ways of administering chemicals into other bodies. Bees, parasites and other creatures all feature micro-hooks/barbs that produce sufficient staying power for the transfer of toxins or in this case, vaccines or liquid drug.
//Bio-inspired Future//
Barbs and stingers sound painful, I certainly associate them with pain. Scientists were able to modify their Barb design to just 0.02 inches and it might be comparable to a mosquito doing its dirty work on the skins surface. It’s an impressive direction that shows the world around us still holds many valuable lessons for us to emulate. Technology and engineering is helping to synergise such intricate fabrication processes and perhaps this will be the decade that a barrage of nature inspired science tools will come to fruition. Non-invasive treatments and novel approaches to existing medical related issues may see improvement and I am excited to see a nature based solution. It’s highly likely that other fields may revisit this direction of nature inspired technology. Perhaps our city planning might take a lesson or two from other species, time will tell.
Sources
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.201909197
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4D_printing