The effectiveness of transdermal drug delivery systems often depends on their ability to maintain close contact with the skin. However, everyday movements such as bending and stretching can create gaps between a patch and the skin, reducing delivery efficiency and limiting user convenience. Developing skin patches that remain attached and functional under real-world conditions has therefore become an important challenge in the field of wearable therapeutics.
A team of researchers led by Changhyun Pang from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea has developed a bioinspired nanofibrous patch that addresses this challenge. Inspired by the suction cups of an octopus, the patch uses microscopic suction structures to maintain adaptive adhesion to the skin, even during significant deformation. The technology combines cellulose nanofibers with an octopus-inspired suction architecture to improve both attachment stability and transdermal delivery performance.
The team published their findings in Nano Research on June 22, 2026.
“Dynamic conditions created by everyday user activities are an important but often overlooked factor in transdermal drug delivery,” said Changhyun Pang, corresponding author of the study and professor at Sungkyunkwan University. “Our bioinspired suction-activated nanofibrous patch maintains robust adhesion and consistent delivery performance even when the skin is bent.”
Transdermal delivery offers a non-invasive alternative to oral medications and injections. However, the skin acts as a strong barrier, and many conventional patches lose effectiveness when movement creates small gaps between the device and the skin. Existing approaches often rely on complex electronic systems or external power sources to improve delivery, increasing manufacturing complexity and reducing accessibility.
To overcome these limitations, the researchers developed an octopus-inspired imprinted fibrous (OIF) patch using a simple thermal imprinting process. The optimized thermal imprinting process allows the precise formation of high-resolution structures without compromising the material’s inherent properties. When a gentle force is applied, the suction structures deform and generate localized negative pressure, allowing the patch to conform closely to the skin surface. This suction-driven mechanism enables stable adhesion without the need for chemical adhesives.
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the patch maintained strong adhesion on dry, damaged, and highly deformed skin surfaces. Even when the skin was bent up to 90 degrees, the patch remained attached and continued to deliver active ingredients effectively. The researchers found that the system achieved up to 3.5 times greater delivery depth compared with conventional flat nanofiber patches under dynamic conditions.
The team also evaluated the patch using hyaluronic acid, a widely used skincare ingredient. In a 14-day human study, participants using the bioinspired patch showed greater improvements in skin roughness, pore appearance, and fine lines than those receiving conventional topical treatment. The patch also left no detectable chemical residue on the skin after removal.
The researchers believe that the technology could support future applications in cosmetics, skincare, and drug delivery. By combining simple manufacturing, strong skin adhesion, and reliable performance under movement, the bioinspired patch offers a promising platform for next-generation wearable therapeutic systems.
Other contributors include Minjin Kim, Minwoo Song, Hyoung-Ki Park, Gui Won Hwang, Jihun Son, Changrok Park, and Gyun Ro Kang from Sungkyunkwan University and Mimetics Co., Ltd.
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(RS-2024-00352352) and by the Korean Fund for Regenerative Medicine (KFRM) grant funded bytheKoreagovernment (the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health & Welfare, No. 25A0102L1). Furthermore, rhis study was conducted in part with the support of the industry-academia cooperation researchof MimeticsCo., Ltd.
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908813
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
Nano Research
Biomimetic Nanofiber Patch Inspired by Octopus Suckers Improves Drug Delivery During Skin Movement
22-Jun-2026