Journal article
Micromechanical Punching: A Versatile Method for Non-Spherical Microparticle Fabrication
Biomaterial Microsystems, Nanofabrication, National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark1
National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark2
Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark3
Drug Delivery and Sensing, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark4
Nanofabrication, National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark5
Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark6
Nanoprobes, Drug Delivery and Sensing, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark7
Microparticles are ubiquitous in applications ranging from electronics and drug delivery to cosmetics and food. Conventionally, non-spherical microparticles in various materials with specific shapes, sizes, and physicochemical properties have been fabricated using cleanroom-free lithography techniques such as soft lithography and its high-resolution version particle replication in non-wetting template (PRINT).
These methods process the particle material in its liquid/semi-liquid state by deformable molds, limiting the materials from which the particles and the molds can be fabricated. In this study, the microparticle material is exploited as a sheet placed on a deformable substrate, punched by a robust mold.
Drawing inspiration from the macro-manufacturing technique of punching metallic sheets, Micromechanical Punching (MMP) is a high-throughput technique for fabrication of non-spherical microparticles. MMP allows production of microparticles from prepatterned, porous, and fibrous films, constituting thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers.
As an illustration of application of MMP in drug delivery, flat, microdisk-shaped Furosemide embedded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles are fabricated and Furosemide release is observed. Thus, it is shown in the paper that Micromechanical punching has potential to make micro/nanofabrication more accessible to the research and industrial communities active in applications that require engineered particles.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | MDPI |
Year: | 2021 |
Pages: | 83 |
ISSN: | 20734360 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.3390/polym13010083 |
ORCIDs: | Petersen, Ritika Singh , Boisen, Anja and Keller, Stephan Sylvest |