Mosquito proboscis inspired needles
Open-knowledge reference entry
Female mosquitoes draw blood from a host using their proboscis, containing a bundle of microneedles, to aid egg production. The proboscis anatomy includes a series of stylets used to anchor the mosquito, puncture the surface, inject anesthetic agents, and draw in fluid. Complex microneedle mechanics allow for the fascicle of stylets to achieve a high critical buckling force and low insertion force. These traits can be transferred to the field of biomimetics to inspire designs for painless microneedles inducing minimal damage.
Proboscis anatomy
The mosquito proboscis has six stylets inside a retractable cover called a labium. Within the labium, there is a fascicle comprising two maxillae, two mandibles, a labrum, and a hypopharynx. When the mosquito extends its proboscis into a host, the labium bends away from the stylet bundle. This provides support to the fascicle as it enters the tissue. The two maxillae are serrated, which decreases the friction on the tissue. Both the maxillae and the mandibles have sharp tips that pierce the skin.
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