Inkjet Printing of Biomedical Adhesives

Abstract

Synthetic adhesives have largely displaced natural adhesives in the automotive, aerospace, biomedical, electronic, and marine equipment industries over the past century. We have demonstrated the thin film deposition of biological adhesives using piezoelectric inkjet technology. A MEMS based piezoelectric actuator was controlled to jet uniform fluid flow of the adhesive solution through the ink jet nozzles. Microscopic deposition of adhesives enables improved bonding for a range of advanced electronic and biomedical applications. By printing such small and spatially aligned drops, bond lines between materials are reduced, ultimately resulting in increased bond strength and structural integrity. Piezoelectric ink jet deposition of biological adhesives may greatly improve wound repair in next generation eye repair, fracture fixation, organ fixation, and wound closure.