Design and Optimization of 3D Printable Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA)/Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) Hydrogels for Antibacterial Property Enhancement

This study reports the fabrication and functional evaluation of hydrogel micropatterned patches composed of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), incorporating black cumin seed oil (B-EO) as a bioactive agent for antibacterial agent. Liquid-crystal display (LCD) 3D printing combined with a Taguchi Design of Experiments (DOE) was used to optimize printing parameters and precisely control micropattern geometries, including conical, hexagonal pyramidal, and square-based pyramidal designs. The printed structures were characterized for shape fidelity, mechanical performance, swelling behavior, release kinetics, antibacterial activity, and cytocompatibility. An optimized design with a base dimension of 800 μm, height of 900 μm, and layer thickness of 40 μm provided high structural fidelity, while exposure time showed no significant effect. Conical micropatterns exhibited the highest mechanical strength, confirming geometry as the dominant factor governing load-bearing performance. Swelling studies revealed Fickian diffusion at 35 °C and 50 °C, transitioning to non-Fickian diffusion at 65 °C, indicating temperature-dependent transport. Controlled release of B-EO effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) . Cytocompatibility assays using L929 fibroblasts confirmed no cytotoxic effects. This work demonstrates that LCD-based 3D printing enables geometry-driven tuning of mechanical and functional properties, supporting the potential of B-EO-loaded PEGDA/CMC micropatterned patches for antibacterial applications. • LCD 3D printing enabled precise fabrication of PEGDA/CMC microneedle patches. • Taguchi DOE optimized printing parameters with minimal curing-time effects. • Cone microneedles showed the highest mechanical strength compared to square-based and hexagonal pyramid shapes. • Swelling and drug release were geometry- and temperature-dependent. • B-EO provided strong antibacterial ( S. aureus ) activity with excellent biocompatibility.