Electrochemical based quantification of bacterial growth in media using square wave voltammetry and low cost screen printed electrodes.

A novel method for determining the yield of bacterial growth using square wave voltammetry and screen printed electrodes is described here. This procedure was shown to be a reliable and accurate way to quickly determine the level of bacterial growth within culturing media and these results suggest that the combination of such sensors and the application of square wave voltammetry is suitable for applications such as within a bioreactor where the rapid determination of bacterial growth may be necessary.

Hollow microneedles for ocular drug delivery.

Microneedles (MNs) are micron-sized needles, typically <2 mm in length, arranged either as an array or as single needle. These MNs offer a minimally invasive approach to ocular drug delivery due to their micron size (reducing tissue damage compared to that of hypodermic needles) and overcoming significant barriers in drug administration. While various types of MNs have been extensively researched, significant progress has been made in the use of hollow MNs (HMNs) for ocular drug delivery, specifically through suprachoroidal injections.

Microneedle-Assisted Transfersomes as a Transdermal Delivery System for Aspirin.

Transdermal drug delivery systems offer several advantages over conventional oral or hypodermic administration due to the avoidance of first-pass drug metabolism and gastrointestinal degradation as well as patients' convenience due to a minimally invasive and painless approach. A novel transdermal drug delivery system, comprising a combination of transfersomes with either solid silicon or solid polycarbonate microneedles has been developed for the transdermal delivery of aspirin. Aspirin was encapsulated inside transfersomes using a "thin-film hydration sonication" technique, yielding an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 67.

Microneedle technology for potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine delivery.

Introduction: Microneedle fabrication was conceptualized in the 1970s as devices for painless transdermal drug delivery. The last two decades have seen considerable research and financial investment in this area with SARS-CoV-2 and other vaccines catalyzing their application to in vivo intradermal vaccine delivery. Microneedle arrays have been fabricated in different shapes, geometries, formats, and out of different materials.

Understanding the bonding mechanisms of organic molecules deposited on graphene for biosensing applications.

Graphene is an ideal material for biosensors due to the large surface area for multiple bonding sites, the high electrical conductivity allowing for high sensitivity, and the high tensile strength providing durability in fabricated sensor devices. For graphene to be successful as a biosensing platform, selectivity must be achieved through functionalization with specific chemical groups. However, the device performance and sensor sensitivity must still be maintained after functionalization, which can be challenging.