In a development that may revolutionize how certain medications are administered, MIT engineers and researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in collaboration with Novo Nordisk, have created a novel, swallowable capsule capable of directly delivering drugs into the gastrointestinal tract walls, according to MIT News. The design inspiration comes from an unlikely source in nature: jet-propelling squids.
The device primarily targets the challenge of orally administering macromolecules like proteins and RNA which usually degrade before they can be absorbed in the GI tract. Giovanni Traverso, a key figure behind the study, pointed out the potential impact, noting "This work represents one of the next major advances" in the effort to shift such drug delivery from injections to oral methods, as he told MIT News. The drug-laden capsule employs compressed carbon dioxide or springs to build pressure, and upon interacting with the stomach’s acidic environment or humidity, it releases a jet of medication aimed directly at the gut lining.
This innovative approach could prominently benefit patients in need of drugs like insulin or those for genetic disorders, which traditionally necessitate injection-based delivery. Furthermore, tests on animal models showcased promising results, with drug levels in the bloodstream reaching competitive levels to those from syringe injections, without causing tissue damage.
Looking ahead, the research team is optimistic about bringing this capsule to human trials. The potential for improving patient compliance and eliminating needle-associated risks and inconveniences is substantial. "Aside from the elimination of sharps, another potential advantage of high-velocity columnated jets is their robustness to localization issues" Graham Arrick SM '20, a lead author of the paper, stated in explaining the capabilities of the new drug delivery method as observed in their experiments, he also noted the feasibility of the capsule in delivering most of the dose from a certain distance or even at slight angles, a feature that conventional small needles lack, which need direct tissue contact for drug administration, according to MIT News.
Independent experts have lauded the research as significant for its potential impact on administering essential biologics. Omid Veiseh, a non-affiliated professor of bioengineering at Rice University, highlighted the efficiency of bioavailability achieved by this method, an area where past oral delivery attempts have struggled. With further development and successful human testing, this capsule could mark a meaningful milestone in the way we approach drug delivery.
