A Flexible Nanopore Thin-Film-Enabled Device for Pressure Sensing and Drug Release

A new multifunctional flexible nanopore thin film device for both drug release and pressure sensing is reported. Different from previously reported drug release device based on the nanopore thin film fabricated on rigid substrates, this new flexible device offers two functions: it not only can serve as a drug delivery device, but also can be used as a pressure sensor as well. Specifically, the periodically distributed honeycomb-shape nanopores in the device are used to store the drugs, facilitating the extended drug release. In addition, the applied pressure on the device deforms the nanopore thin film, causing the change of the incident angle of the illuminating optical light on the device surface. As a result, the reflected optical interference fringes from the device shift, which is used as a pressure transducing signal. It has been found that the pressure sensitivity is ∼0.01 nm/mmHg, and the drug release can be easily extended to three weeks for this type of flexible nanopore thin film devices.