来自Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) have developed a mechanical microdevice capable of biopsy (cell collection) and drug delivery when implanted in human skin.
The implant, just a few microns in width, is powered by what is called an “acoustic microengine”, a 3D nanoprinted pump made of hydrogel. The biocompatible material has the same stiffness as human skin and can be remotely actuated via ultrasound, eliminating the need for cumbersome wires and cables which can be infeasible at such small scales.
Microfluidic implants for pharmacology
We are at the point where mechanical systems capable of microfluidic control are possible, and we see such systems employed for many in-vitro biomedical devices. The issue is that many of these devices still rely on bulky pumps and compressors that require tethering to their power sources. A major challenge until now has been the development of a remote-controlled microfluidic system, one that can ‘roam free’ alongside its in-vivo host.
这样的设备必须确定药物输送的精确时机，持续时间和剂量。另外，它还可以以非侵入性的方式收集少量的液体和局部细胞培养物，以诊断目的。以前已经通过小型电池和磁感应来实现遥控器，但是这些设备仍在厘米范围内生产。由于今天的电力储能技术的局限性，进一步的小型化需要完全机械组装来替代任何电子设备，也许是利用水凝胶的可编程性质的电子设备。
The ultrasound-actuated microdevice
Using aNanoscribe两光刻光刻系统以及一些重大计算模拟的团队制作了一款包括六个不同发动机的飞船风格的设备。主引擎，µJET负责沉积和收集少量物质，而周围的五个thrusters则可以在需要时旋转该设备在其悬浮液中旋转。
Using mechanical resonance from varying frequencies of ultrasound, the researchers can carefully control which of the engines are actuated. When an engine is operational, it propels the device using the fluid flow it pumps.
该研究的主要作者穆拉特·凯纳克（Murat Kaynak）指出：“我们已经摆脱了其电子和外部约束的微流体技术。现在可以将微流体装置注入人体组织中，并通过水凝胶的可调性大大增强生化分析。”
EPFL小组发现，该设备的注入可以用最少的侵入性来完成，但是其提取的完整有效载荷仍在全面进行，事实证明更加困难。他们计划在不久的将来从体外实验转向体内研究。
Further details of the study can be found in the paper titled ‘3D印刷软机器人系统的可寻址声性驱动’. It is co-authored by Murat Kaynak, Pietro Dirix, and Mahmut Selman Sakar.
多年来，纳米制作技术已经走了很长一段路。来自Karlsruhe Institute of Technology(KIT) recently developed a新型Photorsist，两种光子光刻的印刷墨水，能够自组装。同样，该团队还利用了Nanoscribe机器，将其新颖的材料用于3D打印空心的Ulbricht球，直径仅为800微米。通过SEM成像，发现该结构在纳米范围内衬有空腔，显示出微观刺应用的巨大潜力。
在其他地方，在Vienna, polymerization specialistUpNanorecently launched a noveltwo-photon technology utilizing a high-power laser. The part serves to speed up the printing process with nano and microscale resolutions across 12 orders of magnitude, enabling small part fabrication down to the micrometer.
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特色图显示了3D打印的声学微引擎。通过EPFL图像。
