In the deep abyss of the oceans, octopuses move gracefully, clinging to any surface with their tentacles equipped with suction cups. But who would have thought that these marine inhabitants could inspire a small medical revolution? Imagine a world where painful injections become a distant memory, replaced by a delicate, tight-fitting patch, resembling an octopus tentacle, that delivers medication directly through the cheek.
Suction cup patches: the medicine of the future
Have you already heard of biotherapeutics? They are a category of treatments that use biological components, such as proteins, cells and genes, to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases. These drugs are produced by living organisms or their cells, unlike traditional drugs which are chemically synthesized.
Two examples above all, synthetic insulin and GLP-1 agonists (the new trendy slimming drugs), are extremely promising, but unstable and complicated to manage, because they contain large and heavy molecules. This makes it difficult to take them orally, as they break down too much in the gastrointestinal tract and may be too large to enter the bloodstream through it. That's where the suction cup patch comes in.
Yet another innovation from nature
Researchers at ETH Zurich they developed a needle-free drug delivery method that resembles a tiny suction cup. Once filled with medications, it sticks to the inside of the cheek like a patch, allowing the medications to enter the bloodstream.
A brilliant idea suddenly arose when the researcher Zhi Luo a peppercorn remained stuck to his cheek due to sucking. Hence, the inspiration from the octopus tentacles, capable of adhering to wet and slippery surfaces.
Credits: ETH Zurich
Promising tests and results
In the first animal tests of this new delivery system, researchers found excellent results: Compared to an oral form of the drug, the suction cup patch introduced up to double the amount of drug into the bloodstream.
In the second phase, to test people's reaction to the patch, the researchers asked 40 volunteers to stick one ("loaded" with simple water) to the inside of their cheeks for 30 minutes. Most participants reported feeling no discomfort, and all said they felt nothing unusual at the attachment site, even 24 hours after removing the suction cup.
The future is a patch
Researchers are optimistic about the potential of the suction cup patch. With further testing and development, this innovation could revolutionize the way we take medicines, making injections a thing of the past.
And with the prospect of a startup, Transire Bio, bringing the needle-free drug delivery system to market, we are one step closer to a future where treating disease is less invasive and more efficient.
