It puts a cool new twist on a growing trend in drug delivery.

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) scientists have created a new microneedle patch to deliver cell therapies — but rather than using traditional materials for their needles, they used ice.

The challenge: Cell therapies use living cells to treat medical conditions. Stem cell transplants are a form of cell therapy, as are some types of cancer immunotherapy.

These cells are typically transplanted into the patient via an implant, injection, or surgical graft. Not only can those delivery methods be painful and invasive, they also carry a risk of infection and must be administered by an experienced professional.

For the full article, click here.