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Conjugated Polymer for Voltage-Controlled Release of Molecules
Shenghua Liu1, Ying Fu1, Guijun Li1
1Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 15, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a novel conjugated polymer device for low-voltage controlled molecular release, demonstrating precise drug delivery and remote control via mobile phone for potential cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Conjugated polymers offer unique electronic and physical properties for biological applications.
- Existing organic electronic ion pumps for drug delivery suffer from high operating voltages and low efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, low-voltage organic device for precise, controllable molecular release.
- To demonstrate the potential of this device for remote, targeted drug delivery, including anticancer agents.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a novel organic device using the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene).
- Application of controlled voltage durations to modulate molecular release rates.
- Demonstration of remote control using a mobile phone and in-vitro testing with an anticancer drug.
Main Results:
- Achieved low-voltage-controlled molecular release with accurate rate modulation based on applied voltage duration.
- Successfully demonstrated remote control of the drug release process via a mobile phone.
- Validated the device's efficacy in delivering an anticancer drug to cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- The novel poly(3-hexylthiophene) device enables efficient, low-voltage controlled molecular release.
- The device's mechanism relies on voltage-induced changes in polymer permeability and wettability.
- This technology holds significant promise for advanced, controllable drug delivery systems in biological applications.
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