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| Scar-reducing microneedle patch--Courtesy of Nanyang Tech. U. |
A drug-eluting patch developed by researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore could offer a solution for patients with overgrown scar tissue. The patch, which uses microneedles made from polymers, delivers the scar-reducing drug 5-fluoracil, which is already approved by the FDA, and self-administers the drug in a sustained release overnight. In studies, the patch demonstrated efficacy in stopping scar tissue growth and reduced scarring in animals. "We wanted to develop a simple, convenient and cost-effective device able to inhibit keloid growth in skin tissue and reduce the size of disfiguring scars," study author Yuejun Kang said in a statement as reported by World Scientific. More