A Controlled-Release Drug Delivery System on a Chip Using Electrolysis

A system-on-a-chip (SOC) with integrated drug reservoirs for drug delivery is proposed. Electrolysis is used to generate microbubbles, which are employed as a force to open the reservoirs and release the drug. Wireless components, including an on/off keying receiver, microcontrol unit, regulator, clock divider, and power-on reset, are integrated for remote drug activation. The proposed microchip is fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 0.35-μm CMOS technology followed by post-IC processing. The total size is 2.48 mm², and the power consumption is 7.57 mW. The in vitro experiment has proven the feasibility of the proposed drug delivery SOC.

I. Introduction

Biomedical electronics that combine the biological and electronic knowledge have made appreciable technological progress in recent years [1]–[3]. For instance, implantable devices for bionic systems based on microchip technologies, such as cochlear [4] and retina [5] implants, have shown remarkable advances in size reductions and system integrity, enabling potential sensation recovery in patients. Furthermore, the use of bioelectronics in neurology and biochemical analysis [6]–[8] is believed to make possible changes in diagnostic and therapeutic behaviors in the next generation. Although the combination of medical devices and electronics has experienced significant breakthroughs, its potential for drug delivery applications remains unrealized.