A monolithic polymeric microdevice for pH-responsive drug delivery.
A drug-delivery microdevice integrating pH-responsive nano-hydrogel particles functioning as intelligent nano valves is described. The polymeric microdevices are monolithic without requiring peripheral control hardware or additional components for controlling drug-release rates. pH-responsive nanoparticles were synthesized and embedded into a composite membrane. The resulting pH-responsive composite membranes were integrated with PDMS micro reservoirs via a room-temperature transfer bonding technique to form the proof-of-concept microdevices. In vitro release characterization of the microdevices was conducted in which the release rate of Vitamin B(12) (VB(12)) as a model drug increased dramatically when the local pH value was decreased from 7.4 to 4. This device concept can serve as a platform technology for intelligent drug delivery in response to various in vivo environmental signals.
Chen
Jian
J
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada.
Chu
Michael
M
Koulajian
Khajag
K
Wu
Xiao Yu
XY
Giacca
Adria
A
Sun
Yu
Y
D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D020100:Hydrogels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010539:Permeability
D020100:Hydrogels