Drug implant the future for chronic disease management

Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas have developed a remote-controlled nanofluidic drug delivery implant, the nanochannel delivery system (nDS), for treatment of chronic diseases. This small nDS is powered by battery, wireless Bluetooth is used to control drug delivery once it is implanted under the skin, and the electric charge can be modified to increase or decrease the concentration driven diffusion across a nanofluidic membrane. It can provide the continuous controlled release of drugs without the use of pumps, valves or a power supply potentially for up to 12 months.

Dr Alessandro Grattoni, corresponding author and chair of the department of nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute, said: “We see this universal drug implant as part of the future of health care innovation. Some chronic disease drugs have the greatest benefit of delivery during overnight hours when it’s inconvenient for patients to take oral medication. This device could vastly improve their disease management and prevent them from missing doses, simply with a medical professional overseeing their treatment remotely.”