Bioelectronics on the Micro-Scale: Spatially Patterned Drug Delivery Utilizing Microfluidics

Abstract

The rapid emergence of advanced therapeutics has highlighted the need for innovative drug delivery systems (DDSs) capable of overcoming biological barriers and ensuring precise spatial and temporal control. This work focuses on the design and simulation of a dual-mode microfluidic DDS that combines electrochemical and magnetic actuation mechanisms to enable reliable and minimally invasive therapeutic delivery. Computational simulations demonstrate the system’s ability to maintain laminar flow under varying conditions, including different Reynolds numbers, fluid viscosities, and multi-input configurations, ensuring robust performance across diverse scenarios. Guidelines for fabrication have been established, detailing the integration of electrochemical drug release via gold membrane dissolution and a magnetic fallback system using iron-doped PDMS membranes for power-independent operation. The front-end fluid control system has been physically implemented on the macro-scale and addresses critical challenges in localized drug delivery by combining spatiotemporal precision, adaptability, and robustness.