Microfabricated drug delivery devices

We review newest developments in the design and fabrication of drug delivery devices based on micropatterned structures. Electronic devices have now reached a stage of dimensions comparable to those of biological macromolecules. This raises exciting possibilities for combining microelectronics and biotechnology to develop new technologies with unprecedented power and versatility. While molecular electronics use the unique self-assembly, switching and dynamic capabilities of molecules to miniaturize electronic devices, nanoscale biosystems use the power of microelectronics to design ultrafast/ultrasmall biocompatible devices, including implants, that can revolutionize the field of bioengineering. Thus, in recent years we have seen an explosion in the field of novel microfabricated and nanofabricated devices for drug delivery. Such devices seek to develop a platform of well controlled functions in the micro- or nano-level. They include nanoparticulate systems, recognitive molecular systems, biosensing devices, and microfabricated and microelectronic devices. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.