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Enzymatic Biofuel Cells for Self-Powered, Controlled Drug Release
Xinxin Xiao1,2, Kieran Denis McGourty1,3, Edmond Magner1
1Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 9, 2020
Summary
This study presents self-powered drug delivery using conductive polymers and biofuel cells. The system controllably releases drugs like ibuprofen and DAPI, showing potential for implantable medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Self-powered drug-delivery systems are crucial for clinical applications, reducing reliance on external power sources.
- Conductive polymers (CPs) offer a promising platform for integrating drug-release functionalities with power generation.
- Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) can provide a sustainable internal power source for such devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a self-powered drug-delivery system utilizing conductive polymers and enzymatic biofuel cells.
- To achieve controlled release of model drug compounds triggered by the EBFC's electrical discharge.
- To evaluate the in situ drug delivery and cellular uptake of released compounds.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of osmium redox polymer-mediated glucose/O2 EBFCs with an integrated CP-drug layer on the cathode.
- Discharging the EBFCs in the presence of glucose and dioxygen to trigger drug release.
- Incorporation and controlled release of model compounds: ibuprofen (IBU), fluorescein (FLU), and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI).
- In situ release and cellular uptake studies using DAPI in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.
Main Results:
- Rapid release of model drug compounds upon EBFC discharge, with minimal release at open circuit.
- Demonstrated controlled and ex situ release of IBU, FLU, and DAPI.
- Successful in situ release of DAPI into cell culture media and its subsequent incorporation into RPE cells.
- Proof-of-concept for a responsive, self-powered drug-release mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The developed system represents a novel self-powered drug-delivery platform based on conductive polymers and EBFCs.
- This technology enables controlled drug release triggered by biological fuel cell activity.
- The findings support the potential application of this system in future implantable drug-delivery devices.
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