A magnetically controlled MEMS device for drug delivery: design, fabrication, and testing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Chronic diseases require precise and controlled drug delivery methods.
• Existing drug delivery systems often lack on-demand release capabilities.
• Magnetic actuation offers a promising approach for remote control of drug release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a magnetically controlled drug delivery device.
• To demonstrate on-demand drug release for potential chronic disease treatment.
• To analyze the magnetic actuation forces and membrane deflections.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of drug-loaded micro-reservoirs using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding.
• Sealing reservoirs with magnetic PDMS membranes featuring laser-drilled apertures.
• Surface modification using bovine serum albumin (BSA) for wettability control.
• Magnetic actuation using an external magnetic field (∼200 mT) to control drug release.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of magnetically actuated drug delivery devices.
• Demonstrated on-demand release of methylene blue (MB) as a model drug.
• Achieved a 10-fold increase in MB release upon magnetic actuation compared to background levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed device offers a novel approach for on-demand drug delivery.
• Magnetic actuation provides precise control over drug release rates.
• This technology holds potential for improved treatment of chronic diseases.