Microscale Patterning of Two-Component Biomedical Hydrogel

In this study, piezoelectric inkjet technology was used for microscale patterning of a two-component medical hydrogel (sold under the registered trademark Coseal®). A MEMS-based piezoelectric actuator was used to control the flow of polyethylene glycol in a sodium phosphate/sodium carbonate solution through inkjet nozzles. A hydrogen chloride solution was subsequently used to cross-link the polyethylene glycol material. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nanoindentation studies were performed to examine the structural, chemical, and mechanical properties of the inkjetted hydrogel material. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the inkjetted material exhibited randomly oriented cross-linked networks. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the piezoelectric inkjet technology technique did not alter chemical bonding in the material. Piezoelectric inkjet printing of medic...