University of North Carolina researchers have introduced a wireless drug delivery system called the Spatiotemporal On-Demand Patch (SOP). This novel technology, resembling a comfortable band-aid, has the capability to receive wireless commands from smartphones or computers, enabling precise scheduling and triggering of drug release through microneedles.
The development signals a potential paradigm shift in the treatment landscape for chronic diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders. The driving force behind SOP is a collaborative effort led by Juan Song, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine, and Wubin Bai, Ph.D., an assistant professor of applied physical sciences at the UNC College of Arts and Sciences.
The patch, designed with user comfort in mind, was put to the test in a mouse model, using melatonin in the microneedles to enhance sleep.
This innovative research not only highlights the multidisciplinary collaboration between pharmacology and physical sciences but also emphasizes the involvement of passionate undergraduate students, including Priyash Hafiz and others from various departments.
The SOP has garnered support from the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health, with a $25,000 pilot project set to assess its efficacy in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Bai, a co-senior author, envisions the SOP addressing diverse aspects of Alzheimer's Disease, ranging from reducing beta-amyloid plaques to mitigating neuroinflammation and enhancing cognitive function.
The SOP is also now equipped with a provisional patent and presents an avenue for highly localized treatment, affecting areas less than 1 square millimeter, offering a promising solution for targeted drug delivery.
Initiates drug release at an electric signal
What sets SOP apart is its ability to initiate drug release within 30 seconds of receiving an electrical signal, making it a potential game-changer in emergencies or instances requiring immediate therapeutic action.
The microneedles, coated with gold to protect the drugs and surrounding tissues, disintegrate the gold coating upon applying a low-voltage electrical stimulus, exposing the drug-loaded microneedles to the skin.
"The beauty of this device is that it can house dozens, if not hundreds, of concentrated drugs and can program their sequential release automatically," explains Song, a member of the UNC Neuroscience Center. The SOP's level of specificity ensures precise and customized drug delivery, catering to the needs of different conditions or specific regions of the body.
With its versatile capabilities, the SOP holds the potential to revolutionize chronic disease treatment. With funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, this research opens doors for advanced drug delivery systems. It underscores the significance of combining materials science and electrical engineering for controlled drug release.
As the SOP continues to undergo testing and refinement, its implications for personalized medicine become increasingly evident. Patients could potentially wear multiple patches simultaneously, minimizing the need for frequent medical visits and hospital trips. This new study is documented in the Nature Communications Journal.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article