Two-photon polymerization for fabrication of biomedical devices

Two-photon polymerization (2PP) is a novel technology which allows the fabrication of complex three-dimensional (31)) microstructures and nanostructures. The number of applications of this technology is rapidly increasing; it includes the fabrication of 3D photonic crystals [1-4], medical devices, and tissue scaffolds [5-6]. In this contribution, we discuss current applications of 2PP for microstructuring of biomedical devices used in drug delivery. While in general this sector is still dominated by oral administration of drugs, precise dosing, safety, and convenience are being addressed by transdermal drug delivery systems. Currently, main limitations arise from low permeability of the skin. As a result, only few types of pharmacological substances can be delivered in this manner [7]. Application of microneedle arrays, whose function is to help overcome the barrier presented by the epidermis layer of the skin, provides a very promising solution. Using 2PP we have fabricated arrays of hollow microneedles with different geometries. The effect of microneedle geometry on skin penetration is examined. Our results indicate that microneedles created using 2PP technique are suitable for in vivo use, and for integration with the next generation of MEMS- and NEMS-based drug delivery devices.