Automatic pharmacy on-a-chip

[DrExperimento]

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Saw this article today about a device (a mirochip, actually) loaded up with multiple drugs which can be dispensed via wireless control. While any errors certainly could be dangerous, it seems this could benefit those who might have difficulty taking medication.


http://www.smartertechnology.com/c/a/Optimized-Systems/Wireless-Implant-Meters-Drug-Doses/

What are your thoughts?

 

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drug potency is a huge issue I'd imagine. Think about it loaded with a drug needing 1mg/day. You'd need the device to hold 120mg (4 months of drug) in solution plus the required extra for residual. Depending on the solubility, it could be a large volume. Since it's subQ, you also need an aqueous solution so you don't get a depot/slow absorption effect like an oil solution of drug. This need for an aqueous solution plus high potency are at direct odds of each other (potency and lipophilicity go in tandem). I guess you could use something like DMSO to solubilize the drug, but that FDA wouldn't be too keen on continuous organic solvent exposure. You could also formulate it as an ester or phosphate pro-drug to increase solubility if possible. Plus you need to worry about first pass in the skin and stability of drug in the device at 37 degrees for an extended period of time (more important for therapeutic proteins)