Biomaterials for MEMS

Chapter Seven

Application of MEMS in Drug Delivery:

The Dynamic Between Biocompatibility

and Biofunctionality

Gabriela Voskerician

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University,

Cleveland, Ohio-44122, USA

E-mail: [e-mail]

The 21

st

century approach to patient pharmacological treatment is a projection of

our consumer oriented society. The patient population demands more efficient and

effective therapies, with less hospitalization time and fewer physician visits, and the

opportunity to lead a normal life, reflected by limited therapy related constraints.

Achieving such goals significantly surpasses the capabilities of traditional oral or

injectable treatments. Such need opens the avenue to drug delivery solutions that

present versatile, dynamic, and reliable control over prescribed conventional treat-

ments. The present work intends to address the critical aspects of biocompatibility

and biofunctionality as they relate to the development of novel drug delivery solu-

tions, here exclusively exemplified by micro-electromechanical systems for clinical

therapy (BioMEMS).

7.1 INTRODUCTION

7.1.1 Current Therapies in Drug Delivery

Factors such as need for long-term treatment, narrow therapeutic window, com-

plex dosing schedule, combination therapy, individualized or emergency dosing

regimen, and labile active agents are presently outside of the capabilities of con-

ventional drug administration.

1

Drug delivery systems such as tablets or injections

typically result in a drug delivery profile marked by an initial sharp increase in

concentration above the therapeutic range, followed by a relatively rapid decrease

into the non-therapeutic range.

2

Thus, the drug concentration remains within the

therapeutic range for a very short period of time, often too short, necessitating

subsequent administration. In the case of potent drugs, a concentration signifi-

Biomaterials for MEMS, Edited b y M. Chiao and J.-C. Chiao

Copyright © 2011 by Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd.

www.panstanford.com

978-981-4241-46-5

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