Have you ever wondered how medicine knows where to go in your body? Traditional drug delivery methods are like sending a package without a proper address—they often miss the mark, affecting areas beyond the intended target. Now, a team of Chinese researchers has created a groundbreaking solution: an ultra-thin electronic patch nicknamed the “organ band-aid.”
A collaborative team from Beihang University, Peking University, and other institutions has developed this innovative patch designed to be attached directly to the surface of organs. As thin as a sheet of paper, the patch integrates flexible electronics and micro-nano processing technologies to deliver drugs precisely where they’re needed.
“It’s like creating a highway for drug delivery,” said Chang Lingqian, a professor at Beihang University’s School of Biological and Medical Engineering. “This technology allows us to transport medication directly to the target site rapidly and accurately.”
The organ band-aid addresses the inefficiencies of oral and intravenous drugs, which often circulate throughout the bloodstream without reaching their specific targets. Large-molecule drugs, in particular, struggle to penetrate cell membranes—the body’s natural security gates.
The patch overcomes these challenges by utilizing a unique structure that enables a wireless power supply. It can safely perforate cell membranes at low voltage, using ultra-high electric field strength formed within its nano-pores to facilitate drug entry into cells.
This innovation has already shown promise in medical aesthetics and skin trauma repair. “It holds great potential for future treatments of major health issues like cancer and trauma,” Chang added.
The research findings were published in the international journal Nature on April 30, marking a significant milestone in the field of targeted drug delivery systems.
