Micro/nanodevices for assessment and treatment in stomatology and ophthalmology

An'an Sheng; Long Lin; Jia Zhu; Jian Zhuang; Jian Li; Lingqian Chang; Huanyu Cheng

doi:10.1038/s41378-021-00238-1

Micro/nanodevices for assessment and treatment in stomatology and ophthalmology

Microsyst Nanoeng. 2021 Jan 29:7:11. doi: 10.1038/s41378-021-00238-1. eCollection 2021.

Authors

An'an Sheng^#^{1

2

3}, Long Lin^#^{1

4}, Jia Zhu^#⁵, Jian Zhuang⁴, Jian Li², Lingqian Chang^{1

6}, Huanyu Cheng⁵

Affiliations

¹ The Institute of Single Cell Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering; School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, China.
² Department of Stomatology, Xiang'An Hospital of Xiamen University, 361100 Xiamen, China.
³ School of Stomatology, North China University of Science and Technology, 063210 Tangshan, China.
⁴ Institute of Plastic Machinery and Plastic Engineering, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029 Beijing, China.
⁵ Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA.
⁶ School of Biomedical Engineering, Research and Engineering Center of Biomedical Materials, Anhui Medical University, 230032 Hefei, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Micro/nanodevices have been widely applied for the real-time monitoring of intracellular activities and the delivery of exogenous substances in the past few years. This review focuses on miniaturized micro/nanodevices for assessment and treatment in stomatology and ophthalmology. We first summarize the recent progress in this field by examining the available materials and fabrication techniques, device design principles, mechanisms, and biosafety aspects of micro/nanodevices. Following a discussion of biochemical sensing technology from the cellular level to the tissue level for disease assessment, we then summarize the use of microneedles and other micro/nanodevices in the treatment of oral and ocular diseases and conditions, including oral cancer, eye wrinkles, keratitis, and infections. Along with the identified key challenges, this review concludes with future directions as a small fraction of vast opportunities, calling for joint efforts between clinicians and engineers with diverse backgrounds to help facilitate the rapid development of this burgeoning field in stomatology and ophthalmology.

Keywords: Biosensors.

Publication types

Review