3D printing redefines microneedle fabrication for transdermal drug delivery

Ki Young Song*, Wen Jun Zhang, Mahtab Behzadfar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Microneedles (MNs) have emerged as an innovative, virtually painless technique for intradermal drug delivery. However, the complex and costly fabrication process has limited their widespread accessibility, especially for individuals requiring frequent drug administration. This study introduces a groundbreaking and cost-effective method for producing MNs utilizing fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology to enhance transdermal drug delivery. The proposed fabrication process involves the elongation of molten polylactic acid (PLA) filaments to create meticulously designed conoid and neiloid MNs with smooth surfaces. This study underscores the critical role of printing parameters, particularly extrusion length and printing speed, in determining the shape of the MNs. Notably, the conoid-shaped MNs exhibit exceptional skin-penetrating capabilities. In order to evaluate their effectiveness, the MNs were tested on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) skin model for skin penetration. The results highlight the high potential of 3D-printed MNs for transdermal drug administration. This novel approach capitalizes on the benefits of 3D printing technology to fabricate MNs that hold the promise of transforming painless drug administration for a variety of medical applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)737-746
Number of pages10
JournalBiomedical Engineering Letters
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024

Keywords

  • FDM 3D printing
  • Microneedle
  • Neiloid and conoid shapes
  • Skin penetration
  • Transdermal drug delivery

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