Fabrication of conical structure using thermal imprint under atmospheric pressure

Abstract

Many fabrication methods have been applied to the fabrication of microneedles made of usual polymer materials ; however, thermal nanoimprint fabrication of biodegradable polymer microneedles have not been researched. Since the nanoimprint fabrication method has high productivity and fine formability, basic study of applying this method to biodegradable microneedle fabrication should be worthwhile. No researchers have researched about the fabrication of microneedle by thermal imprint. Therefore, basic study should be started. Ni mold was fabricated by Ni electro-forming for the mold in imprint process. We had researched about the pressing force and temperature at pressing. As the results, 20 MPa of pressing force and 160°C of temperature at pressing under atmospheric pressure are applied for fine formability.