title: Microdevices for nanomedicine.
abstract: This review surveys selected methods of manufacture and applications of microdevices-miniaturized functional devices capable of handling cell and tissue cultures or producing particles-and discusses their potential relevance to nanomedicine. Many characteristics of microdevices such as miniaturization, increased throughput, and the ability to mimic organ-specific microenvironments are promising for the rapid, low-cost evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of nanomaterials. Their potential to accurately reproduce the physiological environments that occur in vivo could reduce dependence on animal models in pharmacological testing. Technologies in microfabrications and microfluidics are widely applicable for nanomaterial synthesis and for the development of diagnostic devices. Although the use of microdevices in nanomedicine is still in its infancy, these technologies show promise for enhancing fundamental and applied research in nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Michinao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kohane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*