3D-Printed Patch Delivers Two Cancer Drugs Through the Skin

A research team at Queen's University Belfast has developed a 3D-printed dissolving patch that delivers two anti-cancer drugs through the skin at once. The device uses microneedles so fine they cannot draw blood, offering a middle ground between injections and topical creams.

How the Patch Works

The patch contains curcumin and 5-fluorouracil, two drugs with different chemical properties. Curcumin is water-repellent, while 5-fluorouracil is water-soluble. The 3D-printed resin matrix releases them on two separate schedules: curcumin arrives in an initial burst and tapers off over 48 hours, while 5-fluorouracil diffuses more steadily and is mostly gone within 24 hours.

That staggered release matters. Skin cancer treatment often requires sustained drug exposure, and combining two compounds with different release curves lets one patch do the work of separate applications. Professor Ryan Donnelly Lamprou, who led the work, said current treatments force patients into repeated topical applications, invasive procedures, or courses with harsh side effects. Dissolving microneedle patches, he said, offer a simpler and less painful alternative while also reducing needle-stick injuries and sharps waste.

The Manufacturing Challenge

Curcumin absorbs light at the same wavelength the printer uses to cure the resin. That forced the team to lengthen exposure times for curcumin-loaded needles. Combined-drug patches came out slightly less precise than single-drug ones, with curcumin retention dropping from 92 percent in single-drug prints to around 75 percent in the mix. Both drugs are also light-sensitive during storage, so the finished patch needs light-protected, controlled storage to remain stable.

Where It Stands

The research is still at lab and ex vivo stage. Tests so far used dissolution baths, Parafilm, and animal tissue. No cell toxicity, irritation, or tumor-response data has been published yet. Because dissolving microneedles loaded with drugs are regulated as combination products, the team says early regulator engagement and validated manufacturing processes will be needed before human trials can begin.

Beyond Skin Cancer

The researchers see the same approach applying to vaccines and other drug delivery formats where precise dosing and patient comfort matter. Rutuja N. Meshram, a team member, said advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing are reshaping medicine by enabling more precise drug delivery and supporting personalized, patient-friendly healthcare.

Other groups are working on similar problems. The University of Maryland used nanoscale 3D printing in 2025 to fix clogging in microneedles used for embryo microinjection. Continuity Biosciences backed Joseph DeSimone's PinPrint platform, which uses a resin-curing method called iCLIP to keep microchannels precise. QUB's contribution is the specific application: a two-drug, dual-release cancer patch printed directly into a dissolvable format.