Micro and nano structures for biosensing and oral drug delivery

The optics and mechanics from a DVD player can be used to realize compact and sensitive sensor systems. By rotating a disc with integrated microfluidic channels it is possible to manipulate liquid samples such as blood – performing crucial operations like separation, valving and mixing. We integrate sensors such as cantilevers, nanoparticles and resonating strings with centrifugal microfluidics. The sensors are read out by a DVD pick-­‐up head which can perform transmission/absorption measurements and which can detect nm deflections. Also, electrodes are integrated on a disc platform, facilitating electrochemical measurements. In cantilever-­‐based sensing, micrometer sized cantilevers are functionalized on one side with probe molecules. As target analytes bind to the probe molecules the cantilever deflects due to changes in surface stress. This deflection is typically in the nm range and normally only a few cantilevers can be read-­‐out simultaneously. Using a rotating disc system hundreds of cantilevers can be read-­‐out in one second. We will demonstrate how this approach can be used for detection of biomarkers. Hollow cantilevers will be briefly discussed as a new way of performing IR spectroscopy on picoliter amount of sample. Vibrating micrometer sized strings can be used for efficient and sensitive mass detection and for chemical analysis of single nanoparticles. We will show examples from drug characterization and illustrate how the strings can be read-­‐out using blu-­‐ray optics. Finally, we will show how agglutination based assays can be handled and read-­‐out using the disc platform – here targeting biomarkers for rapid diagnostics and prognostics. Micrometer sized containers can be used for oral drug delivery. The hypothesis is that oral drug delivery can be improved significantly by utilizing micrometer sized containers loaded with drug(s) and sealed by intelligent lids that open at specific locations in the body. The containers will, among other features, protect active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) during the passage through the stomach and facilitate adhesion to the wall of the intestine for controlled and unidirectional release, followed by absorption through the intestinal wall. We will show our recent findings and results.