ScienceAugust 18, 2026
microneedles
MY-kroh-nee-dulz
Definition
Tiny, microscopic needle-like structures used for the precise, localized delivery of therapeutic agents into or through the skin or tissues.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek prefix 'mikros' meaning small and the Old English 'nædl' meaning needle. It was coined in modern technical contexts to describe structures built on a microscopic scale.
In the news
The article mentions microneedles as a biomaterial-assisted delivery tool to control the localization and release of engineered extracellular vesicles. This helps ensure the treatment remains in the target tissue long enough to be effective.
Engineered extracellular vesicles could move beyond cargo delivery to reshape diseased tissue microenvironments
Read the full article ↗EurekAlert!