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First self-powered skin patch for future self-treatment

2014/12/16

Professor Matsuhiko NISHIZAWA form the Department of Bioengineering and Robotics of the School of Engineering of Tohoku University has recently developed with his research team the first organic transdermal iontophoresis patch with built-in biofuel cell.

Skin patches are used to deliver a medication into the skin or into the bloodstream throughout the skin. They rely on the passive diffusion of the drug to achieve their effects. While the main advantage of patches over the other types of medication delivery is the possibility to control the release of the drugs, one of their few drawbacks is to have a limited efficiency. Nevertheless, the use of chemical enhancer, or even microneedle has improved their performances. Besides, mild electrical current, which induces a more efficient iontophoresis (enhanced ion flow diffusion through the medium of an applied electric field), allows a better control of the administrated dose and is now widely used for pain relief, chromic edema or even cosmetic applications. Unfortunately, electrically controlled patches make the patient rely on an external power source, which can become heavy and dangerous. The integration of a lightweight and safer power source would then provide the patient with a more versatile treatment.

We have then developed the first full organic iontophoresis patch self-powered by an enzymatic biofuel cell in order to resolve these issues. Our patch is biodegradable, harmless for the skin and moreover shows improved performances than those available at the present time, while keeping a compact size.

Like conventional fuel cells, our enzymatic biofuel cells require a catalyst and a fuel. The electro-catalysts have been fabricated from enzyme-modified carbon fabrics and we used fructose to fuel the oxidation reaction. The fructose has been incorporated in a hydrogel film and set at the anode while a second hydrogel film containing the chemical to be delivered has been used as cathode. The ion flow generated between the anode and the cathode will enhance and deliver more efficiently the medication.

"Organic Transdermal Iontophoresis Patch with Built-in Biofuel Cell" Y. Ogawa, K. Kato, T. Miyake, K. Nagamine, T. Ofuji, S. Yoshino, M. Nishizawa, Adv. Healthcare Mater., DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201400457

Contact:
Division of Public Relations School of Engineering, Tohoku University
eng-pr@eng.tohoku.ac.jp
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