Electronically powered drug delivery devices: considerations and challenges

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Electronically powered drug delivery devices enable a controlled drug release route for a more convenient and painless way with reduced side effects. The current advances in microfabrication and microelectronics have facilitated miniaturization and intelligence with the integration of sensors and wireless communication modules. These devices have become an essential component of commercialized on-demand drug delivery.

Areas covered

This review aims to provide a concise overview of current progress in electronically powered drug devices, focusing on delivery strategies, manufacturing techniques, and control circuit design with specific examples.

Expert opinion

The application of electronically powered drug delivery systems is now considered a feasible therapeutic approach with improved drug release efficiency and increased patient comfort. It is anticipated that these technologies will gradually fulfill clinical needs and resolve commercialization challenges in the future. This review discusses the current advances in electronic drug delivery devices, especially focusing on designing strategies to achieve an effective drug release, as well as the perspectives and challenges for future applications in clinical therapy.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug delivery device
• electronically powered device
• microchip
• electronic micropump
• electronic capsule
• electronic patch
• closed-loop drug delivery

Article highlights

• Electronic drug delivery devices represent an inspiring opportunity to develop advanced delivery systems that are painless, interactive, wireless and enable patient-administered therapy with reduced overall healthcare costs.

• The electronically powered drug delivery devices allow a sustained and painless release process with improved patient comfort and adherence.

• Recent advances in electronic drug delivery devices, including microchips, electronic micropumps, capsules, and patches, are summarized.

• The closed-loop delivery devices with biochemical sensing and controlled drug release capabilities have shown the potential to provide on-demand drug release in the body.

• Further studies regarding optimizing mechanical structure, upgrading electric circuits, and verifying in vivo experiments are required to maximize the clinical potential, relevance, and influence.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 81971703, 82102180].