In vivo activation and biocompatibility of a MEMS microreservoir drug delivery device

Temporal and spatial control over the delivery of therapeutic compounds is an important, fertile, and rapidly advancing field of study in medicine. This work describes the advancement of a new technology of drug delivery from a benchtop prototype releasing tracer molecules to an implantable device for initial animal studies. The improved MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) device was used for the subcutaneous delivery of both tracer molecules (fluorescein and mannitol) and a chemotherapeutic agent (carmustine) in rats. Both temporal and spatial profiles of the tracer molecules were established; only the temporal kinetics of the carmustine were studied. The MEMS drug delivery device is based on a silicon substrate into which microreservoirs are etched. Each reservoir contains an individual dosage of drug and is independently addressable. The microreservoirs are covered with gold membranes which act as anodes. The application of an anodic voltage, in an aqueous solution containing chloride ions, electrochemically transforms gold into gold chloride which is readily soluble in water. This device allows the delivery of both solid and liquid drugs of a wide variety of compositions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Shawgo, Rebecca Scheidt, 1976-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Michael J. Cima.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/17678

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/17678