DLP 3D Printed “Intelligent” Microneedle Array (<i>i</i>μNA) for Stimuli Responsive Release of Drugs and Its <i>in Vitro</i> and <i>ex Vivo</i> Characterization

Abstract

We demonstrate a new fabrication technology to realize “intelligent”, transdermal, minimally invasive microneedle array (iμNA) by crosslinking a hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) by photo-polymerization using Digital Light Processing (DLP) based 3D printing. The photo-polymerization conditions have been optimized so that the mutually exclusive requirements of excellent mechanical strength while retaining hydrogel properties of PEGDA are met which would allow swelling/delivery of therapeutic cargo of diclofenac sodium via diffusion. An array having 100 microneedles arranged in a 10×10 array was successfully 3D printed which efficiently penetrated human skin during ex vivo characterization. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated that the PEGDA based iμNA behaves as a stimuli responsive device showing distinct release characteristics from external stimuli such as temperature and pH.