Friday, 14 September 2012

Body heat, fermentation drive new drug-delivery 'micropump'

Body heat, fermentation drive new drug-delivery 'micropump': West Lafayette IN (SPX) Sep 14, 2012



Researchers have created a new type of miniature pump activated by body heat that could be used in drug-delivery patches powered by fermentation. The micropump contains Baker's yeast and sugar in a small chamber. When water is added and the patch is placed on the skin, the body heat and the added water causes the yeast and sugar to ferment, generating a small amount of carbon dioxide gas.