Octopus-Inspired Patch Improves Adhesion for Transdermal Drug Delivery

Transdermal drug delivery requires secure contact between a patch and dynamically moving skin. Everyday bending and stretching can open microgaps that degrade adhesion and reduce dose consistency, limiting wear time and patient convenience. This undermines delivery of active agents and complicates use outside controlled settings. To overcome this limitation, researchers have developed a biomimetic nanofiber patch that maintains adhesion and delivery during skin deformation.

Developed at Sungkyunkwan University, the octopus-inspired imprinted fibrous (OIF) patch integrates cellulose nanofibers with microscopic suction structures that adapt to skin motion. The design is modeled on octopus suckers that conform to irregular surfaces. It targets sustained skin contact without added hardware or power.

The patch is fabricated by a thermal imprinting process that forms high‑resolution suction features while preserving the nanofibers’ properties. Under gentle pressure, each feature deforms to create localized negative pressure. This mechanism drives conformal contact and stable attachment without chemical adhesives, supporting continuous transdermal delivery during movement.

In laboratory testing, the patch maintained strong adhesion on dry, damaged, and highly deformed skin models. It remained attached and functional when skin was bent up to 90 degrees, preserving delivery performance under dynamic conditions. Compared with flat nanofiber patches, it achieved up to 3.5‑fold greater delivery depth during motion.

The team examined cosmetic performance using hyaluronic acid in a 14‑day human study. Users of the biomimetic patch showed greater improvement in skin roughness, pore appearance, and fine lines than those receiving conventional topical application. No detectable chemical residue remained on the skin after removal.

The findings were published in Nano Research on June 22, 2026. The work involved Sungkyunkwan University and Mimetics Co., Ltd. The researchers note potential applications in cosmetics, skincare, and drug delivery, enabled by simple manufacturing, reliable adhesion, and consistent delivery during daily activity.

“Dynamic conditions created by everyday user activities are an important but often overlooked factor in transdermal drug delivery. Our bioinspired suction-activated nanofibrous patch maintains robust adhesion and consistent delivery performance even when the skin is bent,” said Changhyun Pang, corresponding author of the study and professor at Sungkyunkwan University.

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Sungkyunkwan University