title: Indirect rapid prototyping of antibacterial acid anhydride copolymer microneedles.
abstract: Microneedles are needle-like projections with microscale features that may be used for transdermal delivery of a variety of pharmacologic agents, including antibacterial agents. In the study described in this paper, an indirect rapid prototyping approach involving a combination of visible light dynamic mask micro-stereolithography and micromolding was used to prepare microneedle arrays out of a biodegradable acid anhydride copolymer, Gantrez(®) AN 169 BF. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry and nanoindentation studies were performed to evaluate the chemical and mechanical properties of the Gantrez(®) AN 169 BF material. Agar plating studies were used to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial performance of these arrays against Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Large zones of growth inhibition were noted for Escherichia coli, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and B. subtilis. The performance of Gantrez(®) AN 169 BF against several bacteria suggests that biodegradable acid anhydride copolymer microneedle arrays prepared using visible light dynamic mask micro-stereolithography micromolding may be useful for treating a variety of skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Raleigh, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ritika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stafslien
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Narayan
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D009339:Needles; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008298:Maleates; D011145:Polyvinyls; C058026:polyvinylmethoxyethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer