Effects of temperature on diffusion from PNIPA-based gels in a BioMEMS device for localized chemotherapy and hyperthermia

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of temperature on the diffusion from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)-based gels with hydrophilic (acrylamide) or hydrophobic (butyl methacrylate) co-monomers. The elutions of rhodamine dye and cancer drug, paclitaxel™ are studied over a range of temperatures in which localized chemotherapy can be combined with hyperthermia (37–45 °C). Dye and drug release from the gels is shown to be well described by monolithic and membrane diffusion models. The current work introduces a multi-modal device that can potentially kill cancer cells by chemotherapy and hyperthermia. A clear advantage over prior devices is the ability to combine these two therapeutic interventions in one device. The implications of the results are discussed for the development of thermosensitive drug eluting Bio-Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (BioMEMS) devices that can treat cancer locally via the combined effects of chemotherapy and hyperthermia.