Mechanically Modulated, Ultra-high Precision Logic Delivery of Molecules by Bio-inspired Macroporous Ceramic Sponge
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Mechanically Modulated, Ultra-high Precision Logic Delivery of Molecules by Bio-inspired Macroporous Ceramic Sponge Changlu Xu1, Yanjie Bai2, Huilin Yang1,3, Lei Yang1,3* 1 Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China. 2 School of Public Health, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China. 3 International Research Center for Translational Orthopaedics (IRCTO), Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China. *Corresponding author: Lei Yang, Ph.D., Room 313 Building #1, South Campus of Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China Email: [email protected]; Phone: +86-512-67781540; Fax: +86-512-67781165
ABSTRACT Inspired by sea sponges, porous Al2O3/starch composite sponges were designed and fabricated as a new controlled release system enabling mechano-triggered logic delivery of molecules. Results of material characterization indicate that the all the composite sponges had a high macro-porosity of >80%, and dehydrated sponges revealed favorable pore structure for drug loading and retaining. The composite sponges have moisture-dependent mechanical properties and samples with appropriate moisture contents revealed high resilience and mechanical robustness under cyclic deformation. Based on the unique mechanical properties of the composite sponge, mechanically modulated, nano-gram precision delivery of model molecules was achieved in an AND logic manner gated by both moisture and compressive strain. INTRODUCTION On-demand delivery of biological agents such as therapeutic molecules and cells is of great importance in a variety of applications, including the treatment of cancer, infection control, biosensing, tissue repair and regeneration [1-5]. There are many delivery systems that could achieve controlled release of cargos by internal or external stimuli, such as pH, temperature, ionic concentration, ultrasound, and enzymes [6-8]. Most of these drug or cell delivery systems, however, have been designed or tested for the operation under static conditions [9]. In the past 16 years, the big field of mechano-responsive cargo materials, firstly reported in the work of Lee et al., has exhibited promising capacities in the delivery of varied cargos in a controlled and active manner triggered by mechanical stimuli such as shear, tension and compression [9, 10]. These mechanical stimuli usually derive from the activities of cellular systems, cardiovascular or musculoskeletal systems [11] and such mechano-triggered delivery systems are mostly based on hydrogels and elastomers [9,11]. The use or study of macroporous ceramic-based system in this field has seldom reported. In the present study, inspired by sea sponges which achieve the intake of food and oxygen and the removal of wastes by deforming their bodies, macroporous ceramic/starch composite sponges with moisture-dependent mechanical properties were designed and fabricated. The dehydrated sponges with biomimetic porous s
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