Mould-Free Microneedles in a Single Step: 3D Printing with Photopolymer Resins for Transdermal Delivery.

ABSTRACT: Background: Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing has emerged as a rapid alternative to labour-intensive micro-moulding for producing microneedle (MN) arrays, yet its use in biodegradable, dissolving MNs has been limited by proprietary, non-degradable resins. Methods: The current study proposed an innovative, biocompatible PEGDA-vinyl-pyrrolidone photo-resin with lithium phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphinate initiator, which systematically optimises its rheology and photo-reactivity for DLP printing. Resin formulations were evaluated through viscosity profiling, cure kinetics, FTIR, and ¹H NMR, and MN arrays were printed using a desktop DLP platform and characterised by optical microscopy, mechanical testing, thermal analysis, and dissolution studies.

SUBMITTER: Meshram RN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12655701 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature