Building Nanoglands

摘要

The glands of the body (pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, ovary, and testis) work by providing molecules (typically hormones) when required and only in amounts that are determined by the need. Novel approaches which can balance the release of therapeutic molecules in accordance with need are an as-yet-unachieved goal of modern medicine. Over the past three decades, micro- and nanotechnologies have been actively pursued for biomedical applications. Nanofluidic membranes reveal counterintuitive mass transport phenomena in nanochannels caused by fluid confinement. A time-variable rate of release can be also achieved through electrokinetic phenomena occurring when an electrical potential is applied between the inlet and outlet of channels. A large variety of implantable sensors have been developed, including pressure transducers and ion selective probes, which would render artificial glands suitable for applications ranging from cardiovascular diseases to pain management. Development and preclinical translation of sophisticated systems require a deep understanding of their behavior in vivo, where a harsh biological environment may change long-term functioning.