739
Dramatic Nano-Fluidic Properties of Carbon Nanotube Membranes As a Platform for Programmable Transdermal Drug Delivery

Thursday, 17 May 2018: 09:00
Room 205 (Washington State Convention Center)
B. J. Hinds (Univ. of Washington)
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have three key attributes that make them of great interest for novel membrane applications 1) atomically flat graphite surface allows for ideal fluid slip boundary conditions for 10,000 fold faster fluid flow 2) the cutting process to open CNTs inherently places functional chemistry at CNT core entrance for gatekeeper activity and 3) CNT are electrically conductive allowing for electrochemical reactions and application of electric fields gradients at CNT tips. Pressure driven flux of a variety of solvents (H2O, hexane, decane ethanol, methanol) are 4-5 orders of magnitude higher than conventional Newtonian flow [Nature 2005, 438, 44] due to atomically flat graphite planes inducing nearly ideal slip conditions. However this is eliminated with selective chemical functionalization [ACS Nano 2011 5 3867-3877] needed to give chemical selectivity. These unique properties allow us to explore the hypothesis of producing ‘Gatekeeper’ membranes that mimic natural protein channels. With anionic tip functionality strong electroosmotic flow is induced by unimpeded cation flow with similar 10,000 fold enhancements [Nature Nano 2012 7 133-39]. With enhanced power efficiency, carbon nanotube membranes were employed as the active element of a switchable transdermal drug delivery device that can facilitate more effective treatments of drug abuse and addiction [PNAS . 2010 107 11698]. Due to extremely efficient electroosmosis in the CNT conduits, a watch battery coin cell is able to operate for over 7 days nicotine delivery switching between target dosing of static diffusion transdermal patch and that of nicotine gum. Using optimal fabrication and operational conditions (pH8, -1.5V), ON nicotine fluxes of 5.9 µmoles/cm2/h and ON/OFF ratio of 15 were achieved. This exceeds the demand for nicotine cessation treatment 1.1 µmoles/cm2/h (4mg gum) and ON/OFF ratio (3.6-11) and allows for an active patch area of 4.1cm2, compared to 22cm2 of commercial patches. Power consumption per dose rate of 120 μW/cm2-(μmol/cm2-s) was achieved. Use of electroosmosis in CNTs gives high power efficiencies for compact battery sources. For treatments with a continuous 21mg/24h delivery (commercial patch), a watch battery can last 20.5 days pumping. For early stage treatments with patch and 10x4mg gum dosing, battery life of 7.1 days is expected, well within useful device replacement periods.The systems is demonstrated to work with smart-phone enabled counseling app to form a dosing calendar that is wirelessly transmitted to Bluetooth microcontroller.