CAREER: Laser Processing of Microstructured Medical Devices

本学院早期职业发展（Career）奖的研究目标是了解Ormocer(R)有机-无机杂化材料的双光子诱导聚合（2PIP），并评估该技术在制造三维微结构医疗设备方面的潜力。在2PIP中，来自激光器的飞秒激光脉冲被用来在一个小的焦点体积内破坏光引发剂分子上的化学键。这些自由基化分子与Ormocer(R)单体反应生成自由基化多分子。利用微定位系统在三维空间内移动激光焦点，制备出所需的结构。重点研究活动包括：(1)利用双光子诱导聚合制备的Ormocer(R)材料的生物、化学和力学表征；(2)Ormocer(R)微针和微针阵列的结构和功能表征；(3)结合微针和微尺度压电泵的集成给药装置的功能表征。该项目还将涉及生物材料教育和未被充分代表的少数民族外展。PI与北卡罗来纳州a&t州立大学的教师合作开展联合研究活动，为少数民族学生提供激光材料研究的实践经验；通过学生座谈会与少数民族学生和教师建立联系；并招收少数族裔本科生加入北卡罗来纳大学/NCSU生物医学工程研究生项目。PI还参与了几个生物材料教育和培训计划，其中将讨论先进生物材料的加工，表征和应用。这项综合研究和教育计划将促进医疗设备微加工技术的发展，以提供下一代基于蛋白质和DNA的药物。

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to understand two photon induced polymerization (2PIP) of Ormocer(R) organic-inorganic hybrid materials and evaluate the potential of this technology for fabrication of three-dimensional microstructured medical devices. In 2PIP, femtosecond laser pulses from a laser are used to break chemical bonds on photoinitiator molecules within a small focal volume. These radicalized molecules react with Ormocer(R) monomers to create radicalized polymolecules. The desired structures are fabricated by moving the laser focus in three dimensions using a micropositioning system. The key research activities include: (1) biological, chemical, and mechanical characterization of Ormocer(R) materials created using two photon induced polymerization, (2) structural and functional characterization of Ormocer(R) microneedles and microneedle arrays, and (3) functional characterization of integrated drug delivery devices, which combine microneedles with microscale piezoelectric pumps. This program will also address biomaterials education and underrepresented minority outreach. The PI collaborating with faculty at North Carolina A&T State University on joint research activities, which will provide minority students with hands-on experience in laser materials research; make contacts with minority students and faculty through student symposia; and recruit minority undergraduate students into the UNC/NCSU graduate biomedical engineering program. The PI is also involved with several biomaterials education and training programs, in which the processing, characterization, and application of advanced biomaterials will be discussed. This integrated research and education program will advance the development of medical device microfabrication technologies for the delivery of next generation protein- and DNA- based medicines.