An Iranian startup has built a DAB-based device that manufactures biodegradable microneedle patches in about 15 minutes through a single, automated, continuous step cutting costs by up to 50% and enabling applications from vaccination to dermatology and cosmetics.
Tehran: An Iranian nanotechnology startup has unveiled an innovative device based on the DAB method that marks a step-change in the production of biodegradable microneedle patches a technology poised to reshape drug delivery.
According to the company, the system produces patches in roughly 15 minutes via a one-step, fully automated, continuous process, addressing long-standing challenges in conventional manufacturing, which is typically multi-stage, time-consuming, equipment-intensive, and constrained in raw-material options. The new approach offers easy operability, high scalability, and up to 50% lower production costs.
Biodegradable microneedles tiny, dissolvable projections arranged on a small patch—deliver active ingredients painlessly through the skin. Beyond vaccination, the technology is being explored for skin cancer therapies as well as cosmetic and health applications.
The technical team is currently finalizing a desktop MVP before moving to an industrial, export-ready model, underscoring that the platform is not only lab-feasible but also manufacturable at scale with clear market potential. The project is supported by the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and the Knowledge-Based Economy and the Committee for the Development of Nano and Micro Technologies, reflecting its strategic importance and commercialization prospects.
Experts say biodegradable microneedles could redefine drug delivery and immunization by combining reduced pain, user convenience, rapid throughput, and lower costs, making the technology attractive to patients, clinicians, and the pharmaceutical industry alike.