CAREER: Laser Processing of Microstructured Medical Devices

该学院早期职业发展(CAEREAR)奖的研究目标是了解Ormoercer(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，来自激光的飞秒激光脉冲被用来在小焦域内破坏光引发剂分子上的化学键。这些自由基分子与Ormoercer(R)单体反应，生成自由基多分子。所需的结构是通过使用微定位系统在三维方向上移动激光焦点来制造的。主要的研究活动包括：(1)利用双光子诱导聚合创建的Ormoercer(R)材料的生物、化学和机械表征；(2)Ormoercer(R)微针和微针阵列的结构和功能表征；以及(3)将微针与微型压电泵相结合的集成药物输送装置的功能表征。该计划还将解决生物材料教育和代表不足的少数群体的宣传问题。国际学生联合会与北卡罗来纳A&A&T；T州立大学的教师合作开展联合研究活动，这将为少数族裔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族裔学生和教师建立联系；并招收少数族裔本科生参加北卡罗来纳大学/NCSU生物医学工程研究生项目。该协会还参与了几个生物材料教育和培训项目，其中将讨论先进生物材料的加工、表征和应用。这一综合研究和教育计划将推动医疗器械微制造技术的发展，以交付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.