Transdermal microneedles have demonstrated promising
potential
as an alternative to typical drug administration routes for the treatment
of various diseases. As microneedles offer lower administration burden
with enhanced patient adherence and reduced ecological footprint,
there is a need for further exploitation of microneedle devices. One
of the main objectives of this work was to initially develop an innovative
biobased photocurable resin with high biobased carbon content comprising
isobornyl acrylate (IBA) and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate blends
(50:50 wt/wt). The optimization of the printing and curing process
resulted in μNe3dle arrays with durable mechanical properties
and piercing capacity. Another objective of the work was to employ
the 3D printed hollow μNe3dles for the treatment of osteoporosis
in vivo. The 3D printed μNe3dle arrays were used to administer
denosumab (Dmab), a monoclonal antibody, to osteoporotic mice, and
the serum concentrations of critical bone minerals were monitored
for six months to assess recovery. It was found that the Dmab administered
by the 3D printed μNe3dles showed fast in vitro rates and induced
an enhanced therapeutic effect in restoring bone-related minerals
compared to subcutaneous injections. The findings of this study introduce
a novel green approach with a low ecological footprint for 3D printing
of biobased μNe3dles, which can be tailored to improve clinical
outcomes and patient compliance for chronic diseases.