Magnetic Shape Memory Micropump for Submicroliter Intracranial Drug Delivery in Rats

Abstract

Point-of-care diagnostic devices, micrototal analysis (μTAS) systems, lab-on-a-chip development, and biomedical research rely heavily upon microfluidic management and innovative micropump design. Here, we describe the design and prototype deployment of a magnetic shape memory (MSM) micropump capable of submicroliter per minute flow rates. The pump contains no valves or moving parts in the fluid channel and is capable of bidirectional fluid transport. This pump was employed as the mechanism to deliver small intracranial dosages of ketamine and tetrodotoxin (TTX) at 0.33 μl/min during in vivo electrophysiological recordings in anesthetized rats, performing to required specifications.