Ingestible Microneedles-Based Electronics for Programmable Drug Delivery
Abstract
The proposed is the first step to realizing ingestible wireless electronics that can reside in the stomach for weeks to wirelessly deliver medication via the stomach with microneedles. This eliminates the need for painful or repeated needles injection (e.g., insulin for diabetic patients) and can resolve medication non-adherence challenges for a broad range of diseases, especially for members impeded by physical and mental conditions. The device can be swallowed without medical procedure and will not require surgery for implantation, does not require wearing, attachment, or injection of the device into the body. The electronics can be wirelessly monitored and controlled via personal devices that can also be interconnected with a broad range of electronics and medical services. The Topic Area of this proposal is Sustained Release Drug Delivery, and the proposal is aligned with multiple Portfolio categories including but not limited to Neuroscience and Nutrition and Metabolism. Critical Problem to Be Addressed: The proposed research addresses the critical problem of medication non-adherence: only 50 percent of adherence is achieved even in developed countries and is especially challenging for Service Members impeded by physical or mental conditions (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, addiction, and depression) where non-adherence can lead to further degradation of symptoms and deaths. Non-adherence can also be exacerbated by the lack of clinical access such as in the Service Members in remote warfare, or due to a shortage of resources (e.g., clinical staff) prior to definitive care. Non-adherence to drug therapy can also contribute to long-term military health challenges such as the development of drug-resistant strains and unnecessary loss of organs due to infections or organ rejection in transplantation. Existing Solutions: Despite decades of development in implantable and wearable drug-delivery electronics (e.g., Microchips™ Implants was first introduced in 1999, or a commercially available insulin pump), significant challenges remain for current devices that impeded their ability to be adopted. For example, the invasive surgical procedure causes pain and discomfort and is susceptible to surgical complications, rejection, and infection, which is particularly undesirable for remote military sites. Recent advances in wearable and epidermal electronics, though promising, are fundamentally limited by the access from the skin and require penetration of the epidermis with needles-based delivery. These systems remain challenging to achieve weeklong attachment without eliciting irritation, infection, and discomfort. For a Warfighter, such attachments may not be compatible with body armor and clothing and are susceptible to interference by the motion of the body during Service activities. Further, injured Soldiers with injuries on the skin, such as burn wounds, can have difficulty leveraging skin-based electronics. Innovations: Oral delivery leverages the naturally evolved delivery mechanism and has been the preferred route for drug delivery for decades. Critically, oral delivery of electronics can leverage the significant space and immune-tolerant environment available within the gastrointestinal tract, circumventing the need for more invasive device placement or complications associated with wearable or epidermal devices. For instance, by swallowing the electronics device once, a weeklong dosage of insulin can be delivered autonomously in a diabetic patient without causing any sensation or requiring additional actions for glycemic management. The delivery can also be integrated with sensors and a broad range of wireless devices to ultimately enable programmable, closed-loop feedback modulated, sustained release of medications that are much more effective, safe, and convenient for Service Members and Veterans. Further, in contrast to other electronics and devices that rely on mass production of identical d
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310041
Entities
People
- Yong Lin Kong
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Utah