A nanoscale-resolution multi-photon printer enables rapid, customizable fabrication of microneedle patches for painless administration of mRNA vaccines and other biomaterials. This image shows the 3D-printed polymer needles on a reflective silicon chip.

The yellowish glow is a byproduct of the ultraviolet curing technique used to enhance the mechanical properties of the print. Jaklenec and Langer Lab researchers are working with MIT.nano to fine-tune the balance between sharpness, array size, and printing speed to ensure the greatest flexibility in developing life-saving medical technologies, particularly for low-resourced areas.