A Microreservior-based Drug Delivery Device Using Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) Actuator

This paper reports a microreservior-based drug delivery device that is activated by ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuator. The actuator is fabricated with Nafion 117 membrane and plated with silver layer electrodes. To fit with biocompatible properties, the device body, including the drug reservoir, was constructed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material. Experimental measurement of the fabricated IPMC actuator shows a maximum deflection displacement of 0.076 ~ 0.077 mm at two consecutive actuation cycles. To study the concentration of the drug released from the developed device, fluorescent dye was loaded in the reservoir and the released intensity was measured using well plate reader. An increase of the fluorescent intensity shows that IPMC actuator successfully unseals the microreservoir and achieves the targeted application.