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Dissolvable 3D-printed patch aims to improve skin cancer treatment
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a dissolvable 3D-printed patch with microneedles that deliver two anti-cancer drugs directly to localised skin cancer, potentially reducing the need for repeated treatments or injections. The one-step printing method allows for controlled drug release and could pave the way for next-generation medicine delivery, including vaccines.
Researchers in Belfast have developed a dissolvable 3D-printed patch designed to improve treatment for localised skin cancer. The patch, created by a team at Queen's University Belfast, contains tiny microneedles that can pass through the outer layer of the skin without drawing blood, delivering two anti-cancer drugs—curcumin and 5-fluorouracil—directly to the affected area.
According to the researchers, this targeted delivery could reduce the need for repeated topical treatments or more invasive procedures such as injections, making skin cancer treatment less painful and easier for patients.
The research was carried out by Rutuja N Meshram, a final-year PhD student, and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou, chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing, both from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's.
Why microneedles?
Professor Lamprou explained the motivation behind the work: "Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and current treatments often require repeated topical applications, invasive procedures, or can cause unwanted side effects." He added that many patients experience fear, discomfort, or inconvenience when treatments involve needles and injections.
"Minimally invasive microneedle systems that dissolve after application could provide a more patient-friendly, simpler and less painful way to deliver cancer medicines," he said. Because the microneedles dissolve after use, they may also help reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries and decrease medical sharps waste.
One-step 3D printing
To create the patch, the researchers developed a one-step 3D-printing method that allows both anti-cancer drugs to be added directly into a printable resin before the microneedle patch is made. The team said this technique blends the drugs into the microneedles during manufacturing, enabling better skin penetration, higher drug loading, and a controlled two-stage release.
Mr Meshram highlighted the broader potential of the approach: "Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D-printing are helping reshape the future of medicine by enabling more precise drug delivery and supporting personalised, patient-friendly healthcare."
He added: "Our findings point to a future where medicines and vaccines can be delivered in ways that are less painful, easier to use, and more acceptable to patients than traditional injections. In time, this research could support the development of more personalised treatments and safer, more accessible healthcare technologies."
The researchers believe the approach could support the development of next-generation medicine delivery technologies, including vaccines and other life-saving drugs.
The study has been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials and was supported by the Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India.
How each outlet told it
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Framing: Headline emphasizes 'Dissolvable 3D-printed patch' and its aim to improve skin cancer treatment; includes 'dissolvable' and '3D' descriptives. — Neutral and informative, with a positive framing of the innovation; supported by direct quotes from researchers about benefits.
Facts Included:
New dissolvable 3D-printed patch developed by researchers in Belfast
Patch developed by Queen's University Belfast
Contains tiny microneedles that pass through outer layer of skin without drawing blood
Delivers two anti-cancer drugs: curcumin and 5-fluorouracil
Aims to treat localised skin cancer
Targeted delivery may reduce need for repeated topical treatments or injections
Research carried out by Rutuja N Meshram (final Year PhD student) and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou (chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing) from School of Pharmacy
Lamprou quote about skin cancer being public health concern and current treatments' drawbacks
Lamprou quote about patient-friendly microneedle systems and reducing needle-stick injuries
One-step 3D-printing method developed to add drugs to printable resin
Blending drugs into microneedles enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, controlled two-stage release
Belief that approach could support vaccines and other life-saving drugs
Meshram quote about 3D-printing reshaping medicine
Meshram quote about future of less painful, easier medicine delivery
Study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials
Supported by Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India
Framing: Headline says 'printed patch developed by researchers in Ireland' rather than 'in Belfast' or 'by Queen's University Belfast'; emphasizes Irish connection and omits 'dissolvable' and '3D' specifics. — Neutral and informative, with a positive framing of the innovation; supported by direct quotes from researchers about benefits.
Facts Included:
New dissolvable 3D-printed patch developed by researchers in Belfast
Patch developed by Queen's University Belfast
Contains tiny microneedles that pass through outer layer of skin without drawing blood
Delivers two anti-cancer drugs: curcumin and 5-fluorouracil
Aims to treat localised skin cancer
Targeted delivery may reduce need for repeated topical treatments or injections
Research carried out by Rutuja N Meshram (final Year PhD student) and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou (chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing) from School of Pharmacy
Lamprou quote about skin cancer being public health concern and current treatments' drawbacks
Lamprou quote about patient-friendly microneedle systems and reducing needle-stick injuries
One-step 3D-printing method developed to add drugs to printable resin
Blending drugs into microneedles enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, controlled two-stage release
Belief that approach could support vaccines and other life-saving drugs
Meshram quote about 3D-printing reshaping medicine
Meshram quote about future of less painful, easier medicine delivery
Study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials
Supported by Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India
Framing: Headline emphasizes the 'dissolvable 3D-printed patch' and its aim to improve skin cancer treatment; includes specific descriptor 'dissolvable' that is omitted in some other headlines. — Neutral and informative, with a positive framing of the innovation; supported by direct quotes from researchers about benefits. The tone is measured and factual.
Facts Included:
New dissolvable 3D-printed patch developed by researchers in Belfast
Patch developed by Queen's University Belfast
Contains tiny microneedles that pass through outer layer of skin without drawing blood
Delivers two anti-cancer drugs: curcumin and 5-fluorouracil
Aims to treat localised skin cancer
Targeted delivery may reduce need for repeated topical treatments or injections
Research carried out by Rutuja N Meshram (final-year PhD student) and Prof Dimitrios A Lamprou (chair of biofabrication and advanced manufacturing) from school of pharmacy
Lamprou quote about skin cancer being public health concern and current treatments' drawbacks
Lamprou quote about patient-friendly microneedle systems and reducing needle-stick injuries
One-step 3D-printing method developed to add drugs to printable resin
Blending drugs into microneedles enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, controlled two-stage release
Belief that approach could support vaccines and other life-saving drugs
Meshram quote about 3D-printing reshaping medicine
Meshram quote about future of less painful, easier medicine delivery
Study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials
Supported by Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India
Includes an embedded link to 'What is Moderna’s new skin cancer vaccine and how big a breakthrough is it?'
Framing: Headline emphasizes the 'printed patch' and its aim to improve skin cancer treatment; leaves out 'dissolvable' and '3D' specifics but captures core innovation. — Neutral and informative, with a positive framing of the innovation; supported by direct quotes from researchers about benefits.
Facts Included:
New dissolvable 3D-printed patch developed by researchers in Belfast
Patch developed by Queen's University Belfast
Contains tiny microneedles that pass through outer layer of skin without drawing blood
Delivers two anti-cancer drugs: curcumin and 5-fluorouracil
Aims to treat localised skin cancer
Targeted delivery may reduce need for repeated topical treatments or injections
Research carried out by Rutuja N Meshram (final year PhD student) and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou (Chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing) from School of Pharmacy
Lamprou quote about skin cancer being public health concern and current treatments' drawbacks
Lamprou quote about patient-friendly microneedle systems and reducing needle-stick injuries
One-step 3D-printing method developed to add drugs to printable resin
Blending drugs into microneedles enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, controlled two-stage release
Belief that approach could support vaccines and other life-saving drugs
Meshram quote about 3D-printing reshaping medicine
Meshram quote about future of less painful, easier medicine delivery
Study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials
Supported by Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India
Framing: Headline emphasizes 'Dissolvable 3D-printed patch' and its aim to improve skin cancer treatment; includes 'dissolvable' and '3D' descriptives. — Neutral and informative, with a positive framing of the innovation; supported by direct quotes from researchers about benefits.
Facts Included:
New dissolvable 3D-printed patch developed by researchers in Belfast
Contains tiny microneedles that pass through outer layer of skin without drawing blood
Delivers two anti-cancer drugs: curcumin and 5-fluorouracil
Aims to treat localised skin cancer
Targeted delivery may reduce need for repeated topical treatments or injections
Research carried out by Rutuja N Meshram (final Year PhD student) and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou (chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing) from School of Pharmacy
Lamprou quote about skin cancer being public health concern and current treatments' drawbacks
Lamprou quote about patient-friendly microneedle systems and reducing needle-stick injuries
One-step 3D-printing method developed to add drugs to printable resin
Blending drugs into microneedles enables better skin penetration, higher drug loading, controlled two-stage release
Belief that approach could support vaccines and other life-saving drugs
Meshram quote about 3D-printing reshaping medicine
Meshram quote about future of less painful, easier medicine delivery
Study published in Advanced Healthcare Materials
Supported by Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimA new dissolvable 3D-printed patch has been developed by researchers in Belfast with the aim of improving treatment for localised skin cancer.
ClaimDelivering medicine straight to the affected area provides more targeted medicine delivery and could reduce the need for repeated topical treatments or injections, making skin cancer treatment less painful and easier for patients.
ClaimThe research was carried out by Rutuja N Meshram, a final Year PhD student, and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou, chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing, both from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's.
ClaimProfessor Lamprou said: 'Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and current treatments often require repeated topical applications, invasive procedures, or can cause unwanted side effects.'
ClaimProfessor Lamprou said: 'Minimally invasive microneedle systems that dissolve after application could provide a more patient-friendly, simpler and less painful way to deliver cancer medicines.'
ClaimProfessor Lamprou said: 'Because the microneedles dissolve after use, they may also help reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries and decrease medical sharps waste.'
ClaimThe one-step 3D-printing method allowed the researchers to add both anti-cancer drugs directly into a printable resin before making the microneedle patch.
ClaimThe researchers said this technique blends the drugs directly into the microneedles during the manufacturing stage, enabling better skin penetration, higher drug loading, and a controlled two-stage release.
ClaimThe researchers believe this approach could support the development of next-generation medicine delivery technologies, including vaccines and other life-saving drugs.
ClaimMr Meshram said: 'Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D-printing are helping reshape the future of medicine by enabling more precise drug delivery and supporting personalised, patient-friendly healthcare.'
ClaimMr Meshram said: 'Our findings point to a future where medicines and vaccines can be delivered in ways that are less painful, easier to use, and more acceptable to patients than traditional injections.'
ClaimMr Meshram said: 'In time, this research could support the development of more personalised treatments and safer, more accessible healthcare technologies.'