A flexible transparent nanopore device for pressure sensing and drug release

Abstract

This paper reports a newly developed flexible nanopore device for both drug release and pressure sensing for the first time. Different from our previously reported drug release device based on the nanopore thin film fabricated on rigid substrates [1], this new flexible device 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 can store the drugs, facilitating the extended drug release. In addition, the applied pressure on the device deforms the shape and interspace among the nanopores, as a result, the reflected optical interference fringes from the device shift, which is used as a pressure transducing signal.