Rapid prototyping and customizable microneedle design: Ultra-sharp microneedle fabrication using two-photon polymerization and low-cost micromolding techniques

Abstract

In recent years, interest in microneedle devices for drug and vaccine delivery and point-of-care diagnostics has grown due to low cost, convenience and minimal invasiveness. A cluster of miniature needles on a small patch could enhance the quality of human health care, revolutionizing test and drug and vaccine delivery systems. However, current fabrication methods are not viable for cost-effective large-scale manufacture. This study reports fabrication of ultra-sharp microneedles with microfluidic channels using two-photon polymerization (2PP) which enables flexible designs with resolution down to 100 nm. The technique is ideally suited to prototyping and the fabrication of master molds from which elastomeric negative-molds have been used in a rapid micromolding technique to make batches of ultra-sharp microneedles. This micromolding process has mass manufacturing potential.