Electrically Controlled Biochemical Release from Micro/Nanostructures for in vitro and in vivo Applications: A Review

To release biosubstances, including drug molecules, DNAs, and proteins, at prescribed cellular and tissue locations with controllable rates is the Holy Grail of drug delivery that could enable an array of unprecedented in vitro and in vivo applications. Extensive research efforts have been focused on exploring innovative mechanisms and approaches for controlling biochemical release with prescribed dose, timing, and dynamics. Particularly, the utilization of electric fields to stimulate the release of biomolecules from synthesized micro/nanostructures has received considerable interest. In this review, we focus on the recent progresses in controlling the release of biomolecules with electric fields by a variety of mechanisms, including electrochemical desorption and actuation, electrically triggered erosion, and electrically driven nanopumps and mechanical motions. The research on external electric stimuli trigged biorelease has progressed rapidly and could make remarkable impact in single‐cell biology, cell‐cell communication, and drug discovery. Biochemical release at prescribed locations of individual cells and tissues with controllable rates is the Holy Grail of drug delivery that could offer an array of unprecedented opportunities for in vitro and in vivo applications. In this work, recent progresses of controlled release of biomolecules from micro/nanostructures by electric fields are reviewed.