%0 PDF %T Expanding the Utility of Silk Fibroin Microneedles: An Investigation of Device and Fabrication Process Improvements for Transdermal Vaccination and Broader Applications. %A Stinson, Jordan. %8 2017-04-20 %R http://localhost/files/dn39xd31d %X Abstract: Thin-film microneedle patches have emerged as an exciting alternative to hypodermic needles as they offer a simple, minimally-invasive approach to drug and vaccine delivery. Despite extensive research, many materials chosen for use in microneedle patches limit the total device scope through poor processing, stability, or mechanical properties. Silk fibroin protein from Bombyx mori offers the potential to bridge the gaps in microneedle fabrication associated with other materials as it offers a suite of properties including mechanical strength, biocompatibility, tunable release, and simple processing conditions compared to metals, glasses, and polymers. While silk microneedle patches are an excellent platform for transdermal delivery of drugs and vaccines, there exist limitations with their use due to existing fabrication methods. In the present work, the investigation of device and fabrication process improvements to recapture some of the advantages of silk over other materials is reported. Through demonstration of conformable microneedle patches, successful influenza vaccination, and novel device formats, the broad utility of silk microneedles is demonstrated. This work provides evidence of the capability of the silk microneedle platform to be designed for drug or vaccine delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering applications.; Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2015.; Submitted to the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering.; Advisor: David Kaplan.; Committee: Fiorenzo Omenetto, and Ayse Asatekin.; Keyword: Biomedical engineering. %[ 2022-10-12 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution