The devices offer a wide range of nanomedicine applications, specifically for disease diagnostics inside cells and tissues and for drug delivery

The small dimensions of the micronano devices (between 5 µm and 20 nm) allow them to be introduced into cells and tissues by different procedures: phagocytosis, lipofection or microinjection. The devices are highly stable, allowing them to follow cellular processes for long periods of time and don't affect cell viability, as was shown by cell toxicity tests. The devices can be composed of different materials to define micronanosystems or to be covered by substances with different biological activities. The functional parts of the devices are defined by lithographic techniques that allow minimum dimensions. The fabrication techniques allow the production, with precision, of complex devices, batch mode production, low cost of fabrication and the production of more than 150 millions of identical devices at the same time.

The intracellular parameters that can be measured can be physical, chemical or biological, as temperature, pressure, pH, redox potential, ion concentration, enzymatic activity, or the presence of a ligand or a protein. The device can emit signals proportional to the intracellular parameters detected. By means of this signal scientists and physicians can receive and analyze the information, which makes possible the early diagnostics of disease at cellular level. The devices can be functionalized with fluorescent molecules, proteins, antibodies or antitumoral drugs. The functionalization of the device can locate the device at a specific cell or tissue, where the device can deliver drugs or cause cell death by hyperthermia or releasing chemotherapy agents, which is very useful for cancer therapy.

Key features

• As they are fabricated using lithographic techniques, they can be produced with precision, with different materials and geometries.
• Devices with controlled dimensions between 5 µm and 20 nm.
• Highly stable and non-toxic for cells.
• Fabrication techniques based on batch mode to produce large number of units at low cost.
• Devices can be functionalized with fluorescent molecules, proteins, antibodies or antitumoral drugs.

 

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