Electro-thermally induced structural failure actuator (ETISFA) for implantable controlled drug delivery devices based on micro-electro-mechanical-systems

Design of a remote-control drug delivery implantable chip for cancer local on demand therapy using ionic polymer metal composite actuator

Since the local, on demand, cancer therapy is a challenging clinical issue today, this paper presents the design, fabrication and characterization of a remotely controlled single reservoir drug delivery chip using Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) actuator. Here, Drug release was externally programmed and controlled wirelessly on demand by a communication circuit. The transmitter and receiver circuits were designed to control the release/sealed status remotely even from 7 cm distance while the transmitter and receiver were coupled magnetically. IPMC here was used as the moving cap of the reservoir, that in release mode, lets the drug out on demand with a low received power of 20 mW. The novel simple design could release the whole content of the drug which is remarkable in comparison with the designs which need complicated optimizations of diffuser, nuzzle and IPMC diaphragm pump, leading to an incomplete release. To make sure that there is no leakage in the sealed mode, IPMC was attached to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support film. Biocompatibility of all the components of the chip were tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Controlled Drug Delivery Using Microdevices

Therapeutic drugs administered systematically are evenly distributed to the whole body through blood circulation and have to cross many biological barriers before reaching the pathological site. Conventional drug delivery may make drugs inactive or reduce their potency as they may be hydrolyzed or degraded enzymatically and are rapidly excreted through the urinary system resulting in suboptimal concentration of drugs at the desired site. Controlled drug delivery aims to localize the pharmacological activity of the drug to the desired site at desired release rates. The advances made by micro/nanofluidic technologies have provided new opportunities for better-controlled drug delivery. Various components of a drug delivery system can be integrated within a single tiny micro/nanofluidic chip. This article reviews recent advances of controlled drug delivery made by microfluidic/nanofluidic technologies. We first discuss microreservoir-based drug delivery systems. Then we highlight different kinds of microneedles used for controlled drug delivery, followed with a brief discussion about the current limitations and the future prospects of controlled drug delivery systems.

Cell stretching devices as research tools: engineering and biological considerations

Cells within the human body are subjected to continuous, cyclic mechanical strain caused by various organ functions, movement, and growth. Cells are well known to have the ability to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. This process is referred to as mechanotransduction. A better understanding of mechanotransduction is of great interest to clinicians and scientists alike to improve clinical diagnosis and understanding of medical pathology. However, the complexity involved in in vivo biological systems creates a need for better in vitro technologies, which can closely mimic the cells' microenvironment using induced mechanical strain. This technology gap motivates the development of cell stretching devices for better understanding of the cell response to mechanical stimuli. This review focuses on the engineering and biological considerations for the development of such cell stretching devices. The paper discusses different types of stretching concepts, major design consideration and biological aspects of cell stretching and provides a perspective for future development in this research area.

The Use of Microdispensers with Spatial Repellents for Personal Protection Against Mosquito Biting

Mosquito-borne pathogens affect millions of people worldwide. This work describes a new method to deliver spatial repellents. Functional microdispensers (FMDs) were designed to deliver spatial repellents against mosquitoes. In vivo trials showed that FMDs protect human subjects against mosquitoes by reducing 70–90% of bites received, with a protection that lasted up to 4 weeks. FMDs can be cost-effectively implemented as wearable or field-dispensed devices for local area protection, defined as a confined geographical region.

Materials for microfabricated implantable devices: a review

The application of microfabrication to the development of biomedical implants has produced a new generation of miniaturized technology for assisting treatment and research. Microfabricated implantable devices (μID) are an increasingly important tool, and the development of new μIDs is a rapidly growing field that requires new microtechnologies able to safely and accurately function in vivo. Here, we present a review of μID research that examines the critical role of material choice in design and fabrication. Materials commonly used for μID production are identified and presented along with their relevant physical properties and a survey of the state-of-the-art in μID development. The consequence of material choice as it pertains to microfabrication and biocompatibility is discussed in detail with a particular focus on the divide between hard, rigid materials and soft, pliable polymers.

Functional Micro-Dispensers based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) integrated with fabrics as functional materials to protect humans from mosquito feeding

Functional Micro-Dispensers (FMDs) based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) were designed to deliver spatial repellents that reduce the ability of mosquitoes to feed on humans. FMDs were integrated with fabrics as functional materials for protection against mosquito bites. The use of MEMS devices provides an unprecedented control over the release kinetics by means of integration with electronics for selective and timely activation of each device to perform controlled release of pesticides in air. In addition, because MEMS manufacturing techniques evolved from the microelectronic industry, FMDs can be mass produced at very low cost. Trials using FMDs that contained transfluthrin improved protection against mosquito feeding in human subjects above that of permethrin-treated uniform fabric worn on the arm of the volunteer. The overall reduction in feeding was approximately 90% compared to the untreated fabric control, and about 50% reduction compared to the permethrin-treated fabric control. The devices were efficacious over course of 32 days. FMDs have the potential for a simple and cost-effective implementation for mass adoption as wearable devices integrated in fabrics as active functional materials.

Intracranial MEMS based temozolomide delivery in a 9L rat gliosarcoma model

Primary malignant brain tumors (BT) are the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor. Treatment of BTs is a daunting task with median survival just at 21 months. Methods of localized delivery have achieved success in treating BT by circumventing the blood brain barrier and achieving high concentrations of therapeutic within the tumor. The capabilities of localized delivery can be enhanced by utilizing mirco-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to deliver drugs with precise temporal control over release kinetics. An intracranial MEMS based device was developed to deliver the clinically utilized chemotherapeutic temozolomide (TMZ) in a rodent glioma model. The device is a liquid crystalline polymer reservoir, capped by a MEMS microchip. The microchip contains three nitride membranes that can be independently ruptured at any point during or after implantation. The kinetics of TMZ release were validated and quantified in vitro. The safety of implanting the device intracranially was confirmed with preliminary in vivo studies. The impact of TMZ release kinetics was investigated by conducting in vivo studies that compared the effects of drug release rates and timing on animal survival. TMZ delivered from the device was effective at prolonging animal survival in a 9L rodent glioma model. Immunohistological analysis confirmed that TMZ was released in a viable, cytotoxic form. The results from the in vivo efficacy studies indicate that early, rapid delivery of TMZ from the device results in the most prolonged animal survival. The ability to actively control the rate and timing of drug(s) release holds tremendous potential for the treatment of BTs and related diseases.

Poly(amidoamine) Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Cell Culturing and Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Biodegradable and biocompatible poly(amidoamine)-(PAA-) based hydrogels have been considered for different tissue engineering applications. First-generation AGMA1 hydrogels, amphoteric but prevailing cationic hydrogels containing carboxylic and guanidine groups as side substituents, show satisfactory results in terms of adhesion and proliferation properties towards different cell lines. Unfortunately, these hydrogels are very swellable materials, breakable on handling, and have been found inadequate for other applications. To overcome this problem, second-generation AGMA1 hydrogels have been prepared adopting a new synthetic method. These new hydrogels exhibit good biological propertiesin vitrowith satisfactory mechanical characteristics. They are obtained in different forms and shapes and successfully testedin vivofor the regeneration of peripheral nerves. This paper reports on our recent efforts in the use of first-and second-generation PAA hydrogels as substrates for cell culturing and tubular scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration.