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COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Researchers at Ohio State University are studying mosquitoes for the purpose of developing painless needles for medical purposes.
"Mosquitoes need to do something good if they can pierce our skin and draw blood without causing pain," said Bharat Bhushan, Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. Ohio State.
According to a university statement, researchers are trying to replicate the ability of a mosquito to insert a needle-like probe into your skin and draw blood for several minutes without you noticing it.
For this study, the researchers extensively reviewed the work already done by entomologists on mosquitoes, but with particular emphasis.
"We used our engineering experience to characterize parts of the mosquito to understand how they can contribute to painless piercing," Bhushan said.
They used a technique called nanoindentation to probe the hardness and stiffness of the labrum tip at seven different locations. They found that the labrum was the softest near the tip and edges and became steeper and more and more distant into the labrum.
"This is important because a softer and more flexible tip can cause less pain when it pierces the skin because it deforms the skin less," said Bhushan.
According to the researchers, it was one of four keys to painless piercing. They identified the other three through their analysis of existing studies.
Another key is the fact that the part of the trunk that actually draws blood – called the fascicle – has a serrated design, like a saw.
This may seem painful, but it is useful because it facilitates insertion. The booklet also vibrates when inserted, which also helps to decrease the force needed to pierce the skin.
Other research has shown that mosquitoes use an insertion force three times weaker than the lowest reported insertion force for an artificial needle, which could be the result of vibration and inflammation. the serrated design, said Bhushan.
The final key to painless piercing is the use of a numbing agent by the mosquito. Once the proboscis is inserted, the insect releases saliva, which contains a protein that decreases pain.
Based on these results, Bhushan is considering a micro-needle with two needles inside.
A numbing agent would be immediately injected, while the second needle would take blood or inject the drug. This second needle, like the mosquito fascicle, would have a serrated design and would be more flexible and more flexible at the end and on the sides. It would also vibrate as it is inserted.
Bhushan said that a micro-needle like this would be more expensive than a traditional needle and probably could not be used for purposes such as pumping intravenous fluids or taking a sample of a needle. large amount of blood.
But it could be helpful for children or adults who are particularly phobic from using needles.
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