• Researchers used 3D printed tooling to create dissolving microneedles that deliver drugs through the cheek. • Microneedle patches have been inching toward mainstream drug delivery for years, promising painless administration and simplified logistics compared to injections. • The “buccal route” - through the inner cheek - also avoids first pass metabolism, a known barrier to consistent oral uptake of certain drugs. • In a new study in Micromachines, the team reports dissolving microneedle (DMN) arrays fabricated with the aid of 3D printed master molds, a path that could put additive manufacturing squarely into the drug-device supply chain. • The approach combines two established ideas: use resin 3D printing to rapidly prototype sub-millimeter needle geometries, then replicate them as dissolvable polymer arrays loaded with API. • That hybrid model has been gaining traction because it bypasses costly microfabrication steps and lets researchers iterate quickly on tip sharpness, base thickness, and array pitch.

Article Summaries:

  • Researchers have demonstrated a new method for producing dissolving microneedle (DMN) arrays that deliver drugs through the inner cheek (buccal route). By 3D‑printing high‑resolution resin master molds, the team can rapidly prototype needle geometry and then cast the molds into water‑soluble polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinyl alcohol loaded with active pharmaceutical ingredients. The approach bypasses costly microfabrication steps, enabling quick iteration on tip sharpness, base thickness, and array pitch. Characterization showed acceptable morphology, mechanical strength, insertion performance, dissolution, and in‑vitro permeation. The study highlights potential for personalized, on‑demand patches but notes gaps in sterilization protocols and quality‑control validation needed for commercialization.
  • Researchers used 3D printed tooling to create dissolving microneedles that deliver drugs through the cheek. Microneedle patches have been inching toward mainstream drug delivery for years, promising painless administration and simplified logistics compared to injections. The “buccal route” - through the inner cheek - also avoids first pass metabolism, a known barrier to consistent oral uptake of certain drugs. In a new study in Micromachines, the team reports dissolving microneedle (DMN) arrays fabricated with the aid of 3D printed master molds, a path that could put additive manufacturing squ

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