Flexible Nanoneedle Patch for Intracellular Biomolecule Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for introducing vertically ordered silicon nanoneedles into living biological systems face challenges due to the rigid and opaque nature of bulk Si wafers, which limit contact and observation, and cause mechanical mismatch with soft, curvilinear biological systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of flexible substrate-based nanoneedle patches, where vertically ordered nanoneedles are embedded and physically liberated from a bulk Si wafer using a transfer printing method, allowing for improved mechanical flexibility and optical transparency, enabling better contact and observation of biological systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vertically ordered silicon nanoneedles are introduced using bulk Si wafers, then nanoneedle delivery capability is achieved, but mechanical mismatch and optical opacity limit contact and observation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the nanoneedles from the bulk Si wafer substrate, transferring only the necessary nanoneedle array to a flexible polymer substrate. This segmentation allows the nanoneedles to maintain their delivery function while the flexible substrate provides mechanical compatibility with soft biological tissues, resolving the contradiction between delivery capability and mechanical adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanoneedles are extracted from the rigid bulk Si wafer and transferred to a flexible polymer substrate. This extraction removes the harmful rigidity and opacity of the bulk wafer while preserving the functional nanoneedle array, enabling both effective delivery and mechanical compatibility with biological systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If bulk Si wafers are used as substrate, then nanofabrication process stability is maintained, but optical transparency and mechanical flexibility are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The nanoneedles are fabricated on the bulk Si wafer using stable nanofabrication processes before being transferred to the flexible substrate. This preliminary action on the stable Si wafer ensures high manufacturing precision, while the subsequent transfer to the flexible polymer substrate provides the required optical transparency and mechanical flexibility for biological applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulk Si wafer serves as an intermediary substrate that enables stable nanofabrication of the nanoneedles. After the nanoneedles are formed, the wafer acts as a temporary carrier that allows transfer of the nanoneedle array to the final flexible polymer substrate, which then provides the optical and mechanical properties needed for biological use.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid flat substrate is used, then nanoneedle vertical ordering is achieved, but contact with curvilinear biological systems is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a rigid, static substrate to a flexible, dynamic polymer substrate that can adapt its shape. The flexible substrate can conform to curvilinear biological surfaces and deform under cellular forces, enabling continuous contact and real-time observation while the nanoneedles maintain their vertically ordered structure for precise delivery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible substrate allows for enhanced mechanical compatibility and optical transparency, facilitating effective nanoinjection of biomolecules into cells and tissues without causing damage, and enabling real-time observation, with high efficacy in delivering siRNAs and maintaining cell viability.
Implementation Method 1
expanding the flexible substrate from a first volume to a second volume sufficient to cause the pillars to fracture at the locations thereof adjacent the first substrate and detach therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
Devices for intracellular and intratissue nanoinjection of biomolecules into a living body and methods of producing the devices. Such a device includes a flexible substrate and nanoneedles extending from a surface of the flexible substrate, and can be produced by providing a first substrate having pillars extending from a surface thereof, locally reducing diameters of the pillars at locations thereof adjacent the first substrate, embedding distal ends of the pillars in a flexible substrate, and sufficiently expanding the flexible substrate to cause the pillars to fracture at the locations thereof adjacent the first substrate and detach therefrom to define nanoneedles extending from the flexible substrate.