3D Printing of Microneedles via Embedded 3D Printing using an Associative Surfactant System
Date
2022Metadata
[+] Show full item recordAbstract
Microneedles are drug-delivery devices specially adapted to penetrate the outer-most layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum). These devices have gained popularity over the last decades because they provide non-invasive drug delivery options. There are many types of microneedles to suit a wide variety of applications. This work is focused on using new lipid-hydrogel materials to fabricate microneedles using a liquid-in-liquid 3D printing process combining embedding and associative liquid-in-liquid 3D printing approaches. Although liquid-in-liquid 3D printing was successfully applied in previous research, printing at the microscale introduces additional complexities. To successfully fabricate microneedles at the microscale with good shape fidelity and appropriate mechanical properties, it is crucial to study the print parameters (printing process), the material properties, and how they work together. Through experiments, we investigated the effects of various print parameters, print materials, and suspension baths on the quality of the 3D printed microneedles.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Materials and methods -- Microneedle printing -- Microneedle characterization -- Conclusion and future work
Degree
M.S. (Master of Science)