Untitled ItemUltrasonically actuated platform integrating a drug-loaded cartridge with microfluidics: delivering high-viscosity solutions with adjustable flow rates

Controlling the size and uniformity of the droplets produced through nebulization is crucial for targeted respiratory drug delivery. We recently developed a breath activated aerosol delivery platform, PALM, which can produce droplets with tuneable diameters. The device comprises microfabricated, hydrophilic channels, which bound the liquid to be atomized into a precisely defined narrow region. High frequency oscillation of the channel sidewalls generates tuneable capillary waves at the liquid interface, leading to control over droplet formation. To determine the practical feasibility of PALM, three additional aspects had to be demonstrated: i) seamless integration of the microfluidic components, electronic circuitry and formulation into a portable handheld device; ii) the ability to adjust the flow rate by modifying the actuation amplitude; and iii) the capacity to aerosolize formulations with different viscosities. The work presented here addresses these three points and establishes the full potential of the PALM platform.