Nanofluidic-based electrochemical pump for remotely controlled, on-demand drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Implantable drug delivery systems require precise control over release kinetics.
• Existing systems often lack on-demand, tunable, and low-power capabilities for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel nanofluidic membrane-based electrochemical drug delivery system.
• To demonstrate electrically modulated, on-demand drug release for implantable applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nanochannel membrane with a platinum coating for electrochemical water reduction.
• Utilizing in situ gas generation to enhance convective drug transport.
• Electrochemical characterization and in vitro drug release studies with diverse compounds.
• Integration with a wireless, battery-powered controller.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated stable, low-power electrochemical actuation (4.62 ± 0.43 mW).
• Achieved reversible, voltage-dependent drug release (1-10 μg h⁻¹) for various molecules.
• Validated wireless control and autonomous operation with a miniaturized Bluetooth-enabled PCB controller.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanofluidic system offers a scalable, low-power solution for tunable drug delivery.
• This technology is suitable for integration into implantable closed-loop systems for autonomous therapeutic administration.
• The platform shows significant potential for personalized and on-demand medical treatments.