Polymer BioMEMS for implantable drug delivery systems

Novel micro- and nanotechnologies enable translational engineering solutions for next generation therapies to address vital unmet medical needs. In particular, they are uniquely suited to address challenges in achieving highly effective drug delivery central to the management of incurable diseases. Our research focuses on the application of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabricated from biocompatible polymers to enable advance drug delivery platforms. These platforms are refillable for chronic use, can deliver unaltered therapeutics, target tissues to reduce dose volume and diffusion distance, and minimize unintended systemic absorption and the associated side effects. The precise temporal and spatial control of drug delivery enabled by our MEMS platform is harnessed for management of incurable ocular diseases (glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa) and small animal research (neuroimaging of behavior).