Fabrication of hollow microneedles using liquid crystal display (LCD) vat polymerization 3D printing technology for transdermal macromolecular delivery

Iakovos Xenikakis; Konstantinos Tsongas; Emmanouil K Tzimtzimis; Constantinos K Zacharis; Nikoleta Theodoroula; Eleni P Kalogianni; Euterpi Demiri; Ioannis S Vizirianakis; Dimitrios Tzetzis; Dimitrios G Fatouros

doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120303

Fabrication of hollow microneedles using liquid crystal display (LCD) vat polymerization 3D printing technology for transdermal macromolecular delivery

Int J Pharm. 2021 Mar 15:597:120303. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120303. Epub 2021 Feb 2.

Affiliations

¹ School of Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
² Digital Manufacturing and Materials Characterization Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, School of Science and Technology, 14km Thessaloniki - N. Moudania, Thermi GR57001, Greece.
³ Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Greece.
⁴ School of Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
⁵ Department of Food Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Sindos Campus, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical School, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁷ School of Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; FunPATH (Functional Proteomics and Systems Biology Research Group at AUTH) Research Group, KEDEK - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Balkan Center, GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁸ Digital Manufacturing and Materials Characterization Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, School of Science and Technology, 14km Thessaloniki - N. Moudania, Thermi GR57001, Greece. Electronic address: d.tzetzis@ihu.edu.gr.
⁹ School of Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. Electronic address: dfatouro@pharm.auth.gr.

PMID: 33540009
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120303

Abstract

The present study aimed to fabricate a hollow microneedle device consisting of an array and a reservoir by means of 3D printing technology for transdermal peptide delivery. Hollow microneedles (HMNs) were fabricated using a biocompatible resin material, while PLA filament was used for the reservoirs. The fabricated microdevice was characterized by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements and leakage inspection studies to ensure the passageway of liquid formulations. Mechanical failure and penetration tests were carried out and supported by Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The cytocompatibility of the microneedle arrays was assessed to human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Finally, the transport of the model peptide octreotide acetate across artificial membranes was assessed in Franz cells using the aforementioned HMN design.

Keywords: Finite Element Analysis; Hollow Microneedle Device; Liquid Crystal Display; Mechanical testing; Octreotide-acetate; Skin synthetic membrane.

MeSH terms

Administration, Cutaneous
Drug Delivery Systems
Humans
Liquid Crystals*
Microinjections
Needles
Polymerization
Printing, Three-Dimensional