Innovation for Impact #7: Nanoceramics to ease skin disease

Common skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, affect a significant portion of the population. Treating these skin diseases is crucial, as these chronic conditions can significantly impact a person's quality of life – both physically and emotionally. Effective treatments can help alleviate symptoms and improve a person's overall health. Additionally, addressing these conditions can reduce healthcare costs associated with ongoing treatments and complications.

Current challenges in skin treatment include:

• A failure of conventional ointments to deliver therapeutic compounds deep enough into the skin
• Large therapeutic molecules, such as siRNA, which struggle to reach their biological targets

A novel approach has now been taken by Empa researchers including Michael Stuer (High Performance Ceramics Lab) and Patrik Hoffmann (Advanced Materials Processing Lab) in collaboration with Aldena Therapeutics and funded by Innosuisse in the form of nanoceramic "stars".

StarCURE: Innovative nanoceramic stars for treating skin diseases

These innovative structures are designed to create transient micron-scale openings in the upper layer of the skin that facilitate the delivery of therapeutic molecules directly to the affected areas.

• Design: Three-armed stars from aluminium oxide that measure about 0.8mm in diameter
• Mechanism: When applied, these stars create micro-scale openings that allow therapeutic molecules to penetrate the skin while closing quickly to minimize damage
• Application method: These stars are delivered in a gel which is removed shortly after application, providing a gentle experience similar to a skin scrub

Manufacturing advantages include

• Cost efficiency: A polymer casting mold method was developed for mass production, significantly reducing costs compared to traditional laser processes
• Sustainability: Future iterations aim to create biodegradable stars by integrating biopolymers or bioglass, allowing easy removal after use

This research offers a promising, efficient and sustainable method for enhancing drug delivery to treat skin conditions, with potential applications extending to various medical fields. Our researchers are working to enable the first batch delivery for clinical trials in Q1 2025.