Premium
Microchips as Controlled Drug‐Delivery Devices
Author(s) -
Santini, Jr. John T.,
Richards Amy C.,
Scheidt Rebecca,
Cima Michael J.,
Langer Robert
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3773(20000717)39:14<2396::aid-anie2396>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , drug delivery , microfabrication , controlled release , microelectronics , computer science , biochemical engineering , materials science , engineering , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , fabrication
Controlled‐release systems are common in a number of product areas, including foods, cosmetics, pesticides, and paper. Microencapsulated systems, for example, are used for the release of flavors and vitamins in foods, fragrances in perfumes, and inks in carbonless copy paper. Controlled‐release systems for drug delivery first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s. In the past three decades, the number and variety of controlled release systems for drug‐delivery applications has increased dramatically. Many of these use polymers having particular physical or chemical characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, or responsiveness to pH or temperature changes. However, recent advances in the field of microfabrication have created the possibility of a new class of controlled‐release systems for drug delivery, namely, that of small, programmable devices. Their small size, potential for integration with microelectronics, and ability to store and release chemicals on demand could make controlled‐release microchips useful in a number of areas, including medical diagnostics, analytical chemistry, chemical detection, industrial process monitoring and control, combinatorial chemistry, microbiology, and fragrance delivery. More importantly, drug‐delivery microchips resulting from this convergence of controlled release and microfabrication technologies may provide new treatment options to clinicians in their fight against disease.