Dissolvable base scaffolds allow tissue penetration of high-aspect-ratio flexible microneedles.

Microscale needle technology is important in electrophysiological studies, drug/chemical delivery systems, optogenetic applications, and so on. In this study, dissolvable needle-base scaffold realizes penetration of high-aspect-ratio flexible microneedles (e.g., <5 µm diameter and >500 µm length) into biological tissues. This methodology, which is applicable to numerous high-aspect-ratio flexible microneedles, should reduce the invasiveness and provide safer tissue penetrations than conventional approaches.