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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Keng Wooi NgORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Polymer microneedles (MNs) have significant potential for use in transdermal delivery and diagnostics applications due to their low cost, versatility, and compatibility with medical grade materials and industrial manufacturing processes. These polymers can also have a wide range of different and desirable properties such as biocompatibility, degradability, and flexibility. To facilitate rapid development of these devices, a multifunctional manufacturing process, easily adaptable to a range of different materials and use cases, would be highly beneficial for research and prototyping purposes. With that in mind, we have developed a multifunctional platform that may be used to produce sharp-tipped microneedle arrays with a variety of substrate materials, mechanical characteristics, electrical properties, and diagnostic functionalities. The paper first presents an outline of the platform concept and the double-sided moulding process that lies at its core, followed by a description of the various add-on steps that are used to customise the geometrical, mechanical, electrical, and functional aspects of the arrays. Finally, we illustrate the versatility of the platform with three exemplars, namely a solid, electrochemically active MN sensor for biomarker diagnostics, a fabric-backed, flexible MN electrode for biopotential monitoring, and a biodegradable array for transdermal drug delivery.
Author(s): Bocchino A, Marquez-Grana C, Singh OP, Melnik E, Kurzhals S, Mutinati GC, Coulman S, Martin C, Ng KW, Vergilio MM, Birchall J, Donovan P, Galvin P, O'Mahony C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
Year: 2025
Volume: 388
Print publication date: 01/07/2025
Online publication date: 21/03/2025
Acceptance date: 17/03/2025
Date deposited: 31/03/2025
ISSN (print): 0924-4247
ISSN (electronic): 1873-3069
Publisher: Elsevier BV
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2025.116491
DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2025.116491
Data Access Statement: Data will be made available on request.
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