1. Flexible Organic Electronic Ion Pump Fabricated Using Inkjet Printing and Microfabrication for Precision In Vitro Delivery of Bupivacaine
- Author
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Cherian, Dennis, Roy, Arghyamalya, Bersellini Farinotti, Alex, Abrahamsson, Tobias, Arbring Sjöström, Theresia, Tybrandt, Klas, Nilsson, David, Berggren, Magnus, Svensson, Camilla I., Poxson, David J., and Simon, Daniel T.
- Abstract
The organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) is an on‐demand electrophoretic drug delivery device, that via electronic to ionic signal conversion enables drug delivery without additional pressure or volume changes. The fundamental component of OEIPs is their polyelectrolyte membranes which are shaped into ionic channels that conduct and deliver ionic drugs, with high spatiotemporal resolution. The patterning of these membranes is essential in OEIP devices and is typically achieved using laborious microprocessing techniques. Here, the development of an inkjet printable formulation of polyelectrolyte is reported, based on a custom anionically functionalized hyperbranched polyglycerol (i‐AHPG). This polyelectrolyte ink greatly simplifies the fabrication process and is used in the production of free‐standing OEIPs on flexible polyimide (PI) substrates. Both i‐AHPG and the OEIP devices are characterized, exhibiting favorable iontronic characteristics of charge selectivity and the ability to transport aromatic compounds. Further, the applicability of these technologies is demonstrated by the transport and delivery of the pharmaceutical compound bupivacaine to dorsal root ganglion cells with high spatial precision and effective nerve blocking, highlighting the applicability of these technologies for biomedical scenarios. A new inkjet printable polyelectrolyte ink, i‐AHPG, simplifies the fabrication of organic electronic ion pumps (OEIPs) used for high‐precision drug delivery. The ink is used to produce flexible, free‐standing OEIPs with favorable iontronic characteristics capable of transporting and delivering pharmaceutical compounds with high spatial precision. The technology can be adapted to many iontronic technologies, and further progress is anticipated.
- Published
- 2023
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