하이드로겔과 미세유체채널을 이용한 단속적 약물 공급소자

초록

In this study, we propose a device that uses the expansive force of a hydrogel to inject a small amount of a drug over a long duration. The proposed microfluidic drug injection device has a hydrogel in the injection chamber. The expansive force of the hydrogel provides the injection pressure to control the drug injection period, time required for supplying water to the hydrogel, and hydrogel expansion time. The use of a hydrogel is difficult due to its powdery texture. Hence, the hydrogel was mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and converted into hydrogel disks. A stop valve was also designed to generate flow resistance in the microfluidic device, which supplies water to the hydrogel. The drug injection intermittently supplied the hydrogel’s expansive force along with the drug, with ~2.1 ㎕ of the drug being administered. Results demonstrate that the hydrogel expansive force can be used to achieve intermittent drug supply.

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