Fabrication of hydroxyapatite microneedles using the LCM-DLP 3D printing technique

• Autor(a) principal: Lei, Catarina Filipa Costa
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/44509
• topic: Microneedles; 3D printing; LCM-DLP; Periodontal diseases

Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the supporting tissues of the teeth and can lead to tooth loss if not treated properly, representing a global public health problem with high prevalence rates. Current treatments involve surgical and non-surgical interventions focused on controlling inflammation and removing bacterial biofilm. However, although effective, conventional treatments face challenges in local administration due to the low retention of drugs in the oral cavity because of the action of saliva, which implies the need for multiple applications. Thus, administration systems are needed to solve conventional methods’ limitations, such as microneedles. Microneedles offer advantages such as the ability to penetrate the gingival tissues in a minimally invasive, painless way and provide controlled and precise administration of the drugs directly into the gingival tissues. In addition, microneedles can overcome drug retention problems, improving treatment efficacy and reducing the need for multiple applications. This dissertation proposes an innovative approach based on the fabrication of hydroxyapatite microneedles patches using the LCM-DLP technique, in specific and optimized designs, including conical, anchored, and hollow with a vat container, as an effective solution for the treatment of periodontal diseases. The analyses conducted, namely scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), and mechanical properties tests, were carried out to assess the dimensional and structural quality of the micro-needles. The results demonstrated the viability of this technology in producing conical and anchored ceramic structures. However, the production of hollow micro-needles with internal channels faced challenges. This work confirms the potential of the LCM-DLP technique in the production of solid microneedles for biomedical applications, although further adjustments are required for the efficient production of hollow microneedles.