Self-Assembled 3D RF-Shielded Biocontainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silicon-based microfabrication is limited to two-dimensional processes, making it difficult to create three-dimensional medical devices, which are essential for maximizing interactions with the surrounding medium, encapsulating cells and drugs, and avoiding undesirable lodging in the body.
Innovation Solution
The development of microscale or nanoscale containers fabricated from materials like metals, polymers, or semiconductors, which are self-assembling and have a 3D polyhedral shape with a fillable center chamber, allowing for the encapsulation and delivery of therapeutic agents, and can be tracked non-invasively using MRI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional silicon-based microfabrication is used, then manufacturing precision and reproducibility are improved, but the ability to create three-dimensional structures is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional silicon-based microfabrication to three-dimensional microstructures by folding flat, two-dimensional precursor patterns into three-dimensional container shapes. This allows the device to achieve volumetric structure while maintaining the manufacturing precision and reproducibility of planar microfabrication processes through photolithography and self-assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-assembly mechanisms where the folded container structure automatically forms a sealed three-dimensional configuration without requiring complex external assembly tools or processes. The self-assembling nature of the folded structure simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving the desired three-dimensionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If two-dimensional microfabrication is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the external surface area to volume ratio is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
By folding two-dimensional flat patterns into three-dimensional container shapes, the patent increases the external surface area while maintaining ease of manufacture through planar photolithography processes. The three-dimensional configuration provides a larger surface area to volume ratio for enhanced interactions with the surrounding medium.
3Area of moving object
If three-dimensional structures are created, then the external surface area to volume ratio is improved, but the difficulty of fabrication is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves three-dimensional structures by folding flat, two-dimensional patterns, thereby obtaining a large external surface area to volume ratio while avoiding the fabrication complexity of direct three-dimensional processing. The approach uses established planar microfabrication techniques followed by a simple folding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed as a folded structure composed of multiple flat faces that can be independently patterned and then assembled through folding. This segmentation of the three-dimensional structure into two-dimensional components simplifies the fabrication process while maintaining the desired geometric complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional microfabrication processes are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to encapsulate cells and drugs in three dimensions is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates three-dimensional container structures that can encapsulate cells and drugs, providing volumetric confinement and a large surface area for controlled release. The folded geometry enables effective encapsulation while maintaining the manufacturing precision of planar microfabrication processes.
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
These containers enable efficient encapsulation and delivery of cells, drugs, and other therapeutic agents in situ, with controlled release and non-invasive tracking, overcoming the limitations of 2D microfabrication by providing a larger surface area for interaction and reducing the risk of device lodging.
Implementation Method 1
the container structure provides RF shielding
Implementation Method 2
The micropatterned faces provide control over bidirectional diffusion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nanoscale or microscale container for encapsulation and delivery of materials or substances, including, but not limited to, cells, drugs, tissue, gels and polymers contained within the container, with subsequent release of the therapeutic materials in situ, methods of fabricating the container by folding a 2D precursor into the 3D container, and the use of the container in in-vivo or in-vitro applications. The container can be in any polyhedral shape and its surfaces can have either no perforations or nano/microscale perforations. The container is coated with a biocompatible metal, e.g. gold, or polymer, e.g. parylene, layer and the surfaces and hinges of the container are made of any metal or polymer combinations.