A cyclically actuated electrolytic drug delivery device

Lab Chip. 2015 Sep 7;15(17):3540-8. doi: 10.1039/c5lc00703h. Epub 2015 Jul 22.

Abstract

This work, focusing on an implantable drug delivery system, presents the first prototype electrolytic pump that combines a catalytic reformer and a cyclically actuated mode. These features improve the release performance and extend the lifetime of the device. Using our platinum (Pt)-coated carbon fiber mesh that acts as a catalytic reforming element, the cyclical mode is improved because the faster recombination rate allows for a shorter cycling time for drug delivery. Another feature of our device is that it uses a solid-drug-in-reservoir (SDR) approach, which allows small amounts of a solid drug to be dissolved in human fluid, forming a reproducible drug solution for long-term therapies. We have conducted proof-of-principle drug delivery studies using such an electrolytic pump and solvent blue 38 as the drug substitute. These tests demonstrate power-controlled and pulsatile release profiles of the chemical substance, as well as the feasibility of this device. A drug delivery rate of 11.44 ± 0.56 μg min(-1) was achieved by using an input power of 4 mW for multiple pulses, which indicates the stability of our system.

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Infusion Pumps, Implantable*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Models, Theoretical

Substances

  • Coloring Agents