Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSAntimicrobial microneedles developed
A team of researchers have developed two new ways of incorporating antimicrobial properties into microneedles, which could enable them to be more successfully used in portable medical devices.
The vanishingly thin needles could be particularly useful in self-treatment for patients with long-term conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes, but the possibility of infection has been an obstacle to their widespread adoption.
The new techniques either coat the needles with a special substance, or use degradable needles that release an antimicrobial agent on contact with skin.
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 23-May-2010 12:52 pm
I am confused - why would you need this for a single use sterile needle?
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Hazel Davies | 26-May-2010 11:49 pm
Is this for patients who are not using cleansing wipes eg alcohol swabs? The article could do with more explanation please. I thought I read somewhere of studies suggesting wipes were not necessary or caused scarring to skin if used after the injection. Maybe someone knows more?
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