Octopus-Inspired Patch Delivers Medicine Without Needles

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Octopus-Inspired Patch Delivers Medicine Without Needles

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In this episode of Brain Bamboozle, we explore a groundbreaking medical innovation: a drug-delivery patch inspired by the suction cups of an octopus. Developed in 2023, this patch adheres to the inner cheek, delivering medications like desmopressin and semaglutide directly into the bloodstream without the need for needles or pills. Animal and human trials have shown promising results, with higher drug absorption rates and positive user feedback. Could this be the future of noninvasive medication? Tune in to find out.

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## Background and Innovation
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed a **suction-cup-inspired oral patch** that adheres to the inside of the cheek (buccal mucosa). The design was inspired by the way octopus suckers grip surfaces. The patch is intended to deliver medications directly into the bloodstream through the cheek’s mucous membrane, bypassing the digestive system and liver metabolism.
## Key Details
- **How It Works:** The patch uses a gentle suction mechanism to stick to the moist tissue inside the cheek, creating a tight seal. This allows drugs to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
- **Medications Tested:** The patch was tested with drugs like **desmopressin** (used for diabetes insipidus and bedwetting) and **semaglutide** (used for type 2 diabetes and obesity).
- **Animal Studies:** In beagle studies, the patch delivered up to **150 times higher drug concentrations** in the blood compared to standard oral tablets.
- **Human Trials:** In a small trial with healthy volunteers, **92% found the patch comfortable** to wear, and many preferred it over injections.
- **Advantages:** This method could make it easier to deliver complex drugs that are usually destroyed in the stomach or poorly absorbed when taken orally.
## Potential Impact
If further trials are successful, this technology could **revolutionize drug delivery** for medications that are currently only available as injections or are poorly absorbed as pills. It could make treatments more accessible, less invasive, and more comfortable for patients.
## References
- [MIT News: Suction-cup-inspired oral patch delivers drugs painlessly through the cheek (2023)](https://news.mit.edu/2023/suction-cup-inspired-oral-patch-drugs-cheek-1214)
- [Science Translational Medicine: Suction-cup-inspired oral patch for transmucosal drug delivery (2023)](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adh1885)
- [The Guardian: ‘Suction cup’ patch could replace injections for some drugs, say scientists (2023)](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/13/suction-cup-patch-could-replace-injections-for-some-drugs-say-scientists)