# MECHANICALLY ROBUST 3D-PRINTED MICROCAPILLARY NEEDLES WITH ANTI-CLOGGING CAPABILITIES

> **NIH NIH R41** · SEETRUE TECHNOLOGY, LLC · 2024 · $296,043

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Biomedical applications in both research and clinical settings rely on microinjection protocols that require using
a hollow microcapillary needle to deliver foreign substances (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, cells, and
nanoparticles) directly into biological targets (e.g., cells, embryos, and tissues). This transgenic engineering
technique has driven advances in fundamental research in areas including cell, systems, and developmental
biology, stem cell gene manipulation, and human disease prevention modeling, as well as for medical
applications including in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle therapy, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, and
intraocular injection. However, the industry standard microneedles (ISNs) used for microinjection in research
settings are typically produced lab-by-lab by physically “pulling” apart transparent glass capillary tubes, which
results in needle variability. The inconsistencies can negatively affect experimental rigor, reproducibility,
productivity, and microinjection efficacy. Thus, the ability to enhance and expand the capabilities of the
microneedles that enable microinjection protocols could significantly impact diverse biomedical fields and
applications. We hypothesize that by leveraging well-established “pyrolysis” post-processing strategies for
enhancing the mechanical properties of DLW-printed 3D microstructures, we can achieve mechanically robust
microinjection needles—based on our pending-patented MSP design—that simultaneously address all the pain
points of ISNs. This proposal will systematically evaluate the utility of the mechanically robust 3D-printed
microcapillary needles versus ISNs with regard to key quantitative metrics of performance underlying material
delivery into zebrafish embryos by: 1) establishing and characterizing pyrolysis protocols for DLW-printed 3D
microneedles, 2) Interrogating the mechanical properties of pyrolyzed 3D microneedle prototypes in vitro, and
3) evaluating microinjection efficacy of pyrolyzed DLW-printed 3D microneedle prototypes versus ISNs using
live zebrafish embryos in vivo. These innovative, geometrically sophisticated, functionally advantageous
microneedle with robust mechanically properties hold unique promise to allow for fast, accurate, and consistent
microinjections with minimal damage to injection targets (e.g., embryos).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10821874
- **Project number:** 1R41GM153053-01
- **Recipient organization:** SEETRUE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Kinneret Rand
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $296,043
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-18 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10821874

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10821874, MECHANICALLY ROBUST 3D-PRINTED MICROCAPILLARY NEEDLES WITH ANTI-CLOGGING CAPABILITIES (1R41GM153053-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10821874. Licensed CC0.

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