Could hi-tech plasters soon replace injections?
Scientists in Switzerland have developed a special kind of plaster that can administer treatments, avoiding the use of more intrusive injections. (RTS/swissinfo.ch)
The patches were developed at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), in collaboration with the Zurich University Hospital. The research was financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
For some years now, premature babies have been given caffeine to help them breathe. It’s supplied orally via a tube or through an injection, both of which represent additional stress for the very sensitive infant.
The new medical patches can simply be stuck to the babies’ skin, and painlessly deliver the caffeine via a membrane, which changes its properties when exposed to UV light.
The delivery rate of the active agent can be precisely controlled and adjusted to suit individual requirements.
EMPA is currently seeking a partner to manufacture the plasters on an industrial scale.
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