Microneedle-based microfluidic systems have a great potential to become well-accepted medical devices for simple,accurate,and painless drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip diagnostics.In this work,we report on a novel hybr...Microneedle-based microfluidic systems have a great potential to become well-accepted medical devices for simple,accurate,and painless drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip diagnostics.In this work,we report on a novel hybrid approach combining femtosecond direct laser written microneedles with femtosecond laser generated microfluidic channels providing an important step towards versatile medical point-of-care systems.Hollow microneedle arrays are fabricated by a laser system designed for two-photon polymerization applications.Compression tests of two different types of truncated cone-shaped microneedle arrays prepared from OrmoComp^(■)give information about the microneedle mechanical strength,and the results are compared to skin insertion forces.Three-dimensional microchannels are directly created inside PMMA bulk material by an ultrashort pulse laser system with vertical channels having adjustable cross-sectional areas,which allow attaching of microneedles to the microfluidic system.A comprehensive parameter study varying pulse duration and repetition rate is performed on two-photon polymerization to identify an optimal laser power range for fabricating microneedles using the same pulse duration and repetition rate as for microchannels.This addresses the advantage of a single laser system process that overcomes complex fabrication methods.A proof of concept flow test with a rhodamine B dye solution in distilled water demonstrates that the combination of microneedles and microchannels qualifies for microfluidic injection and extraction applications.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the European program“Eurostars”under the project number E!9765(Hybrid-3D)funded by the German partner with resources from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF).
文摘Microneedle-based microfluidic systems have a great potential to become well-accepted medical devices for simple,accurate,and painless drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip diagnostics.In this work,we report on a novel hybrid approach combining femtosecond direct laser written microneedles with femtosecond laser generated microfluidic channels providing an important step towards versatile medical point-of-care systems.Hollow microneedle arrays are fabricated by a laser system designed for two-photon polymerization applications.Compression tests of two different types of truncated cone-shaped microneedle arrays prepared from OrmoComp^(■)give information about the microneedle mechanical strength,and the results are compared to skin insertion forces.Three-dimensional microchannels are directly created inside PMMA bulk material by an ultrashort pulse laser system with vertical channels having adjustable cross-sectional areas,which allow attaching of microneedles to the microfluidic system.A comprehensive parameter study varying pulse duration and repetition rate is performed on two-photon polymerization to identify an optimal laser power range for fabricating microneedles using the same pulse duration and repetition rate as for microchannels.This addresses the advantage of a single laser system process that overcomes complex fabrication methods.A proof of concept flow test with a rhodamine B dye solution in distilled water demonstrates that the combination of microneedles and microchannels qualifies for microfluidic injection and extraction applications.
