The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Carbon, Inc.

Rima Janusziewicz

Soumya Rahima Benhabbour

Sue J Mecham

Joseph M DeSimone

Ian Craven

Geometrically complex intravaginal rings, systems and methods of making the same are provided herein. Disclosed herein are geometrically complex intravaginal rings with tunable and enhanced drug release, which in some embodiments can be fabricated by 3D printing technologies. The disclosed IVRs include a ring structure comprising a plurality of unit cells or macroscopic and/or microscopic architecture, which can be tuned to control the loading capacity of an active compound within the IVR, the diffusion of an active compound from the IVR, the surface area of the IVR, and/or the mechanical properties of the IVR. The disclosed geometrically complex IVRs can provide superior control over drug loading and drug release compared to conventional IVRs fabricated by injection molding or hot-melt extrusion.

Geometrically complex intravaginal rings, systems and methods of making the same

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid while concurrently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface by electrochemically generating a polymerization inhibitor therein from a precursor of the polymerization inhibitor, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone (e.g., an active surface) between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

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Carrboro, NC, United States of America

Rima Janusziewicz