Abstract

MICROCHIP: NEW ERA OF DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE

Siddhesh Mungekar*, Vruti Patel, Namrata Jadhav, Manisha Karpe, Vilasrao Kadam

ABSTRACT

The controlled drug delivery has become the standard in modern pharmaceutical design. A number of polymeric based controlled drug delivery devices have been proposed to achieve efficient therapy. Microchip is a polymeric device that allows localized delivery of drug by direct placement of the device at the treatment site, delivery on demand, programmable dosing cycles and automated delivery of multiple drugs. It contains an array of individually sealed and actuated reservoirs, each capped by a thin conductive membrane comprised of gold and wired with final circuitry controlled by microprocessor. Reservoirs are etched into substrate using either chemical etching or ion beam etching techniques. The filled reservoirs can be capped with material that degrade or allow the molecule to diffuse out of reservoir over time or that oxidize and dissolve upon application of electric current. Due to its unique configuration, the microchip exhibits some appealing characteristics, such as being able to supply single or multiple drugs with precise small doses, ability to achieve pulsatile release mode, small in size, and good biocompatibility. Thus, it has the potential for application as implantable device in the field of controlled drug release. It is used in diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, congestive heart failure, anti coagulation.

Keywords: Microchip, Polymeric device, Pulsatile release.