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Roger Sachan, et. al.

Figure 3. Scanning electron micrographs of (a) uncoated polyglycolic acid microneedle, (b) matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation-
coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB(260) target (amphotericin B 1040 mg/mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone), and (c) matrix-
assisted pulsed laser evaporation-coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB(520) target (amphotericin B 2080 mg/mL + 1%
polyvinylpyrrolidone).
Table 3. Roughness values obtained from 3D laser microscopy for an uncoated polyglycolic acid microneedle, a matrix-assisted
pulsed laser evaporation-coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB(260) target (amphotericin B 1040 mg/mL + 1%
polyvinylpyrrolidone), and a matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation-coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB(520) target
(amphotericin B 2080 mg/mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone).
Sample type Uncoated microneedle Amf(260) microneedle Amf(520) microneedle
R a average (µm) 0.055 0.122 0.251
R z average (µm) 0.457 0.918 1.564
RS m average (µm) 4.887 5.853 8.975
R p average (µm) 0.178 0.487 0.706
R v average (µm) 0.279 0.43 0.858
R q average (µm) 0.077 0.173 0.329

with the AmfB(520) target (amphotericin B 2080 mg/
mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone). Table 3 shows the
R (arithmetical mean roughness value), R (average
z
a
maximum height of the profile), RS (mean peak width),
m
R (maximum profile peak height), R (maximum profile
v
p
valley depth), R (root mean square roughness), R
sk
q
(skewness), and R (kurtosis) values for the unmodified
ku
and matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation-modified
polyglycolic acid microneedles. The R value is the old-
a
est and most common roughness parameter in use. It
enables one to understand the amplitude of roughness
on a profile. The R average value is 0.055 µm for the
a
uncoated polyglycolic acid microneedle, 0.122 µm
for the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation-
coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB
(260) target (amphotericin B 1040 mg/mL + 1%
polyvinylpyrrolidone), and 0.251 µm for matrix-assisted
pulsed laser evaporation-coated microneedle from
deposition with the AmfB(520) target (amphotericin B
2080 mg/mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone). The 3D laser
Figure 4. 3D representation of (a) uncoated polyglycolic acid
microneedle, (b) matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation- microscopy data indicate that (a) the matrix-assisted
coated microneedle from deposition with the AmfB(260) target pulsed laser evaporation-modified microneedles exhibit
(amphotericin B 1040 mg/mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone), and (c) higher surface roughness values than the unmodified
matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation-coated microneedle from
deposition with the AmfB(520) target (amphotericin B 2080 mg/ polyglycolic acid microneedles and that (b) matrix-
mL + 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone). 3D measurement performed by assisted pulsed laser evaporation targets containing
Keyence VK-X250 Laser Microscope. higher drug concentrations produce rougher coatings

International Journal of Bioprinting (2017)–Volume 3, Issue 2 153