Speaker
Description
The effectiveness of state-of-the-art systemic treatments for brain disorders is limited not only by the difficulty of crossing the blood–brain barrier but also by off-target drug interactions. Here, we present a brain-oriented microfluidic device and in-vitro setup that enables both convection- and diffusion-mediated drug release through a defined interface in a flexible delivery structure, while simultaneously monitoring drug transport behavior in real time. The device is based on a flexible microtube with externally accessible inlet and outlet ports located outside the tissue. A microscale hole is created in the tube wall using laser-based milling, forming a localized infusion site through which drug molecules can diffuse or be convectively delivered into the surrounding environment. The in-vitro setup allows direct real-time monitoring of ultra-low flow rates at the infusion site, complemented by optical imaging to visualize spatial infusion profiles and spectroscopic measurements to quantify time-dependent drug release concentration. Results demonstrate stable delivery of low drug concentrations, with controllable alternation between diffusion- and convection-driven mechanisms, as well as independent control of each transport mode. The device and setup were validated in a relevant agarose-based brain model. This platform provides a tool for continuous, localized delivery and monitoring of fluidically administered drugs into the brain and has the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes for a range of neurological disorders.