Microneedle Patterning of 3D Nonplanar Surfaces on Implantable Medical Devices Using Soft Lithography.

ABSTRACT: Micropatterning is often used to engineer the surface properties of objects because it allows the enhancement or modification of specific functionalities without modification of the bulk material properties. Microneedle arrays have been explored in the past for drug delivery and enhancement of tissue anchoring; however, conventional methods are primarily limited to thick, planar substrates. Here, we demonstrate a method for the fabrication of microneedle arrays on thin flexible polyurethane substrates. These thin-film microneedle arrays can be used to fabricate balloons and other inflatable objects. In addition, these thin-filmed microneedles can be transferred, using thermal forming processes, to more complex 3D objects on which it would otherwise be difficult to directly pattern micronee

SUBMITTER: Jang SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6843263 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature