Painless drug delivery through microneedle-based transdermal patches featuring active infusion.

This paper presents the first microneedle-based transdermal patch with integrated active dispensing functionality. The electrically controlled system consists of a low-cost dosing and actuation unit capable of controlled release of liquid in the microliter range at low flow-rates and minimally invasive, side-opened, microneedles. The system was successfully tested in vivo by insulin administration to diabetic rats.

Membrane-sealed hollow microneedles and related administration schemes for transdermal drug delivery.

This paper presents fabrication and testing of membrane-sealed hollow microneedles. This novel concept offers the possibility of a sealed microneedle-based transdermal drug delivery system in which the drug is stored and protected from the environment. Sealed microneedles were fabricated by covering the tip openings of out-of-plane silicon microneedles with thin gold membranes.

Novel microneedle patches for active insulin delivery are efficient in maintaining glycaemic control: an initial comparison with subcutaneous administration.

Purpose: Good glycaemic control is essential to minimize the risk for diabetes-induced complications. Also, compliance is likely to be higher if the procedure is simple and painless. This study was designed to validate painless intradermal delivery via a patch-like microneedle array.

A disposable lab-on-a-chip platform with embedded fluid actuators for active nanoliter liquid handling.

In this work we present the development of a disposable liquid handling lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platform with embedded actuators for applications in analytical chemistry. The proposed platform for nanoliter liquid handling is based on a thermally responsive silicone elastomer composite, consisting of PDMS and expandable microspheres. In our LOC platform, we integrate active dosing, transportation and merging of nanoliter liquid volumes.

Femoral strain changes after total hip arthroplasty--patient-specific finite element analyses 12 years after operation.

Periprosthetic stress-shielding after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a well-known phenomenon. Many authors have used the finite element (FE) method to show the effects of THA on animal or human femora. In most cases they have performed cadaver experiments.