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TOWARD CONTROLLED-RELEASE DRUG DELIVERY MICROCARRIERS ENABLED BY DIRECT LASER WRITING 3D PRINTING.
Sunandita Sarker1, Kimia Forghani1, Ziteng Wen1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Proceedings. IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
|March 14, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed biodegradable 3D-printed microcarriers for controlled drug delivery. Using two-photon direct laser writing, they created liquid-core-shell-cap devices with caps that degrade over time to release medication.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Controlled-release drug delivery systems are crucial for effective medical treatments.
- Previous work demonstrated 3D printing of photoresist-based liquid-core-shell-cap microcarriers.
- Biodegradable materials offer a promising avenue for advanced drug delivery solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of biodegradable materials in 3D-printed microcarriers for controlled drug release.
- To investigate the fabrication of liquid-core-shell-cap microcarriers using biodegradable polymers via Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing (DLW).
- To assess the potential of DLW 3D printing for creating novel drug delivery systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing (DLW) for 3D printing microcarriers.
- Fabricated microcarriers with a bottle-shaped shell, an aqueous liquid core, and a biodegradable cap.
- Employed poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) as the biodegradable cap material.
Main Results:
- Successfully 3D printed microcarriers with biodegradable PEGDA caps.
- Demonstrated that shell designs with microfluidic obstruction structures prevent liquid core contamination during cap printing.
- Achieved improved retention of the liquid core after cap fabrication.
Conclusions:
- The DLW 3D printing strategy is a viable method for fabricating biodegradable microcarriers for drug delivery.
- The developed microcarrier system shows potential for controlled release applications.
- Further evaluation is warranted to assess the utility of this 3D printing approach for drug delivery.
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