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January 22, 2024
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have introduced a cutting-edge drug delivery system named the Spatiotemporal On-Demand Patch (SOP). This revolutionary technology allows wireless commands from smartphones or computers to schedule and trigger the release of drugs from individual microneedles, offering a highly localized and personalized treatment approach. The thin and soft platform of the SOP resembles a comfortable Band-Aid, emphasizing user comfort and convenience, particularly for chronically ill patients.
Led by Dr. Juan Song, a professor of pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine, and Dr. Wubin Bai, an assistant professor of applied physical sciences at the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, the research team successfully tested the SOP in a mouse model. Melatonin was utilized in the microneedles to improve sleep, showcasing the potential applications of this wireless-controlled patch beyond traditional drug delivery systems.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the research marks a significant leap forward in the field of drug delivery. The SOP’s capabilities open the door to explore on-demand treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. The UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health have generously funded a $25,000 pilot project to evaluate the SOP in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Bai, a co-senior author, expressed optimism about SOP’s potential in addressing various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. “SOP’s ability to enable joint delivery of multiple drugs could address various aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease, such as reducing beta-amyloid plaques, mitigating neuroinflammation, and enhancing cognitive function,” he stated.
The paper, titled “Digital Automation of Transdermal Drug Delivery with High Spatiotemporal Resolution,” highlighted the multidisciplinary collaboration involved in the project, including the “passionate involvement of Carolina undergraduate students.”
The SOP, equipped with a provisional patent, enables highly localized treatment, covering less than 1 square millimeter of specific tissues, organs, or regions within the body. Remarkably, drug release can be triggered within 30 seconds in response to an electrical signal, offering rapid therapeutic action when needed.
Dr. Song, a member of the UNC Neuroscience Center, emphasized the device’s versatility, stating, “The beauty of this device is that it can house dozens, if not hundreds, of concentrated drugs and can program their sequential release automatically.”
The microneedles, coated with gold for protection, disintegrate the gold coating when a low-voltage electrical stimulus is applied, exposing the drug-loaded microneedles to the skin and initiating controlled drug release. This level of specificity ensures precise and customized drug delivery, catering to the needs of different conditions or specific regions of the body.
The SOP’s potential to reduce the need for frequent doctor visits or hospital trips has significant implications for patient convenience and healthcare efficiency. The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health have provided funding for this groundbreaking research, highlighting its importance in advancing the field of drug delivery. For further information, the UNC School of Medicine can be contacted through Mark Derewicz, the director of research and national news for UNC Health.
