3D Printing—A “Touch-Button” Approach to Manufacture Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery
Merima Sirbubalo,
Amina Tucak,
Kenan Muhamedagic,
Lamija Hindija,
Ognjenka Rahić,
Jasmina Hadžiabdić,
Ahmet Cekic,
Derzija Begic-Hajdarevic,
Maida Cohodar Husic,
Almir Dervišević,
Edina Vranić
Affiliations
Merima Sirbubalo
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amina Tucak
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kenan Muhamedagic
Department of Mechanical Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Vilsonovo Setaliste 9, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lamija Hindija
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ognjenka Rahić
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasmina Hadžiabdić
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ahmet Cekic
Department of Mechanical Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Vilsonovo Setaliste 9, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Derzija Begic-Hajdarevic
Department of Mechanical Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Vilsonovo Setaliste 9, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Maida Cohodar Husic
Department of Mechanical Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Vilsonovo Setaliste 9, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Almir Dervišević
Head and Neck Surgery, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Edina Vranić
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Microneedles (MNs) represent the concept of attractive, minimally invasive puncture devices of micron-sized dimensions that penetrate the skin painlessly and thus facilitate the transdermal administration of a wide range of active substances. MNs have been manufactured by a variety of production technologies, from a range of materials, but most of these manufacturing methods are time-consuming and expensive for screening new designs and making any modifications. Additive manufacturing (AM) has become one of the most revolutionary tools in the pharmaceutical field, with its unique ability to manufacture personalized dosage forms and patient-specific medical devices such as MNs. This review aims to summarize various 3D printing technologies that can produce MNs from digital models in a single step, including a survey on their benefits and drawbacks. In addition, this paper highlights current research in the field of 3D printed MN-assisted transdermal drug delivery systems and analyzes parameters affecting the mechanical properties of 3D printed MNs. The current regulatory framework associated with 3D printed MNs as well as different methods for the analysis and evaluation of 3D printed MN properties are outlined.
