Microneedles covering the patch adapt their shape to the wound as it heals. 

For people living with diabetes, even a minor injury can become a serious, long-term medical problem. Over time, high blood sugar damages the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients needed for repair, making their wounds slow to heal and more vulnerable to infection. 

Now, scientists in South Korea have developed a smart wound patch that not only prevents infection but also delivers DNA nanoparticles that help new blood vessels grow, offering new hope for hard-to-treat diabetic wounds. 

The patch is covered in microscopic needles that change shape at body temperature, allowing them to stay in close contact with the wound as it heals. This unique design is inspired by the shape-shifting traps that carnivorous plants use to trap their prey.

Wounds are often closed with sutures or staples that hold the tissue together while the wound naturally heals. However, they can damage the surrounding skin, leave openings for bacteria to enter, and apply uneven pressure across the wound. Medical adhesives offer an alternative, but they may not be strong enough for larger wounds and struggle to conform to irregular wound shapes. 

Unlike these approaches, the microneedle patch does more than simply hold the wound closed. It can actively prevent bacterial infections and adapt to the healing tissue while stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. In diabetic mice, this translated into faster wound closure and improved tissue regeneration. 

Taking inspiration from nature

Scientists have long looked to nature for inspiration, from soft robots that mimic the movement of octopuses to anti-glare films and X-ray shielding inspired by moth eyes. 

“Human creation has been greatly influenced by the practice of taking inspiration from the designs and functions found in nature,” said Hyun-Do Jung, associate professor at Hanyang University in Seoul and senior author of the study. “From early innovations such as bird-inspired human flight to more recent advances in material science and engineering, nature has continuously provided a model for resolving challenging issues.”

Jung’s team found inspiration in Drosera capensis, a carnivorous plant that captures insects using long, sticky tendrils that quickly curl around their prey. The plant’s adhesive surface helps secure its catch, and it naturally produces antibacterial compounds that protect it from microbes. 

To recreate these key features, the researchers first designed a patch covered with microneedles that bend and adapt their shape in response to body temperature, much like D. capensis responds to its surroundings. The microneedles were made using shape memory polymers — materials that can be temporarily deformed to then return to their original when exposed to specific triggers such as changes in temperature, pH, or light. Because of this behavior, these polymers are already being investigated for medical devices such as minimally invasive stents that can be inserted into blood vessels in a compact form and then expand under physiological conditions. 

To create the microneedles, Jung’s team used a 4D-printing approach that combines conventional 3D printing with materials that can change shape, including shape memory polymers. To speed up the design of the material, which often involves extensive trial and error, the researchers used machine learning algorithms to predict and optimize the behavior of the microneedles. 

“This study goes beyond conventional biomimicry by using artificial intelligence to translate nature-inspired principles into a functional biomedical device,” said Jung. “The key point of this research is not only that it is inspired by nature, but that AI helps convert biological inspiration into a predictable, programmable, and clinically relevant wound-healing technology.”

The team then coated the microneedles with adhesive DNA molecules to help them stay in place while slowly releasing DNA-based therapeutics that stimulate blood vessel growth. A protective zinc coating stabilized the DNA, controlled its release, and gave the microneedles antibacterial properties. 

When tested in diabetic mice, the microneedles successfully changed shape and stimulated blood vessel growth, resulting in faster wound healing without scarring. The patch also showed strong antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. 

Beyond wound healing

Although the results are promising, further research will be needed before the wound patch can be tested in clinical trials and ultimately make its way into routine clinical practice. As part of this work, the researchers plan to explore biodegradable alternatives for the microneedles so they can safely break down once their job is done. 

Jung believes the technology could eventually be adapted for a broader range of smart wound dressings and implants that actively support and speed up the body’s natural healing process. From bone scaffolds that adapt to irregular defects to stents that precisely change shape inside the body, this approach could enable a new generation of medical devices that dynamically respond to the body’s needs rather than remaining passive and static throughout treatment. 

“Beyond wound healing, the AI-guided 4D-printing strategy could also be extended to soft biomedical robots or tissue-interfacing devices that require programmable motion, controlled shape transformation, and stable contact with biological tissues,” said Jung.

Reference: Hyun Lee et al., AI–Guided 4D Printing of Carnivorous Plants–Inspired Microneedles for Accelerated Wound Healing, Advanced Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202523665

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