Abstract
This study focused on the development of high-resolution polymeric structures using polymer-induced self-assembly (PISA) printing with commercially available digital light-processing (DLP) printers. Significantly, soluble solids could be 3D-printed using this methodology with controllable aqueous dissolution rates. This was achieved using a highly branched macrochain transfer agent (macro-CTA) containing multiple covalently attached CTA groups. In this work, the use of acrylamide as the self-assembling monomer in isopropyl alcohol was explored with the addition of N-(butoxymethyl)acrylamide to modulate the aqueous dissolution kinetics. PISA-printed microneedles were observed to have feature sizes as small as 27 μm, which was close to the resolution limit of the DLP printer. Atomic force measurements confirm the presence of a complex mixture of PISA morphologies, including spheres and worms. Additionally, "poke and release" microneedles were fabricated; their base dissolved rapidly in physiological fluids, leaving behind more slowly dissolving tips, thereby demonstrating the potential for sustained drug delivery.
Recommended Citation
A. Priester et al., "PISA Printing Microneedles With Controllable Aqueous Dissolution Kinetics," ACS Applied Polymer Materials, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 1944 - 1950, American Chemical Society, Feb 2024.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c02796
Department(s)
Chemistry
Second Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
3D printing; DLP; PISA printing; RAFT; soluble solids
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2637-6105
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 American Chemical Society, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
09 Feb 2024
Comments
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Grant None