Wirelessly controlled drug delivery systems for translational medicine

Abstract

Conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) deliver drugs to specific sites in patients’ bodies, streamlining the drug delivery process of traditional drug prescriptions, but are challenging in dose accuracy, system adaptability and patient compliance. The rapid advancement of wireless bioelectronics technology presents new avenues to develop a class of wirelessly controlled DDSs (Will-DDSs). Featuring wireless control, flexible triggering, miniaturization and integration, Will-DDSs enable controlled and precise drug release profiles at specific sites for personalized treatment. In this Review, we discuss the development in Will-DDSs, focusing on design principles and strategies associated with drug release mechanisms, wireless power supply and communication. Specially, clinical applications ranging from chronic disease management to acute therapeutic interventions are highlighted. Furthermore, we discuss opportunities in adaptability, comprehensiveness and intelligence presented by the integration of Will-DDSs with other advanced technologies as well as the risks and challenges in terms of biosafety, stability and regulation. Wireless bioelectronics integrates untethered controlled-release, wireless power and communication modules into drug delivery systems (DDSs), enabling dynamic, precise drug dosage and release adjustments and shaping the next generation of DDSs — wirelessly controlled DDSs (Will-DDSs).