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Microfabrication technologies for oral drug delivery
Shilpa Sant1, Sarah L Tao, Omar Z Fisher
1Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|December 15, 2011
Summary
Microfabrication technologies enable advanced oral drug delivery systems and biomimetic models. These innovations enhance drug efficacy and personalized medicine through precise control and intelligent material integration.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Micro-/nanoscale technologies, including lithography and microfluidics, are transforming medicine.
- Microfabrication allows for precise control over drug delivery vehicle features, such as shape, size, and asymmetry.
- These platforms can be engineered for bioadhesion and responsiveness to stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microfabrication for oral drug delivery.
- To explore the development of biomimetic gastrointestinal tract models using microfabrication.
- To highlight the application of these technologies in evaluating drug delivery efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on microfabrication techniques.
- Analysis of microfabrication applications in drug delivery vehicles.
- Examination of microfabrication for creating in vitro gastrointestinal models.
Main Results:
- Microfabrication enables the creation of sophisticated oral drug delivery systems with enhanced features.
- Development of biomimetic gastrointestinal models that mimic physiological conditions.
- These tools show potential for improved drug efficacy assessment.
Conclusions:
- Microfabrication is a key technology for developing next-generation oral drug delivery devices.
- Biomimetic models created via microfabrication offer valuable platforms for drug evaluation.
- These advancements contribute to personalized medicine and improved therapeutic outcomes.
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