ScholarWorks@동국대학교

초록

Microneedles (MNs) offer a transformative platform for transdermal drug delivery, though balancing structural precision with mechanical robustness remains challenging. This study utilized SLA 3D printing to fabricate high-resolution MN masters, systematically evaluating printing angles (0 degrees to 60 degrees) and aspect ratios to optimize fidelity. A 45 degrees printing angle was found to significantly enhance tip sharpness and insertion efficiency. These optimized structures served as templates for flurbiprofen (FLU)-loaded dissolving MNs (DMNs) fabricated via a bilayered casting method. We investigated the impact of geometric architectures-conical, pyramidal, and star-type-on functional performance. Mechanical testing using Parafilm (R) M and ex vivo rat skin revealed that the star-type design, possessing the highest vertex count, exhibited superior strength and a 100% penetration rate by effectively concentrating stress at tip edges. Consequently, star-type DMNs achieved the highest cumulative drug permeation (86.9 +/- 9.9% in 12 h), outperforming pyramidal (77.8 +/- 9.0%) and conical (64.4 +/- 10.2%) designs. These findings underscore geometric design as a critical determinant of clinical efficacy, providing a robust framework for precision manufacturing of task-specific MNs for poorly soluble drugs.

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