Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a lightweight wearable patch that continuously measures drug levels under the skin and wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone in real time. This innovation adds a new dimension to wearable device technologies, which have transformed the monitoring of physical activity, sleep, heart rate, and other vital signs, by expanding their use to track how drug levels change in the body over time.

Monitoring treatments inside the body

In a new study published in the scientific journal Device, KAUST researchers presented an integrated system based on a patch equipped with microneedles that continuously measure drug concentration under the skin and send readings directly to the smartphone in real time. The study offers a new approach to monitoring treatments inside the body, rather than merely measuring physical activity and vital signs.

Monitoring many drugs that require precise dosing involves periodic blood tests followed by laboratory analyses. However, these tests only provide a reading of the drug level at a specific moment, and results may take some time. Therefore, the KAUST team designed this device to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of how drug concentration and movement change in the body over time.

Measuring drug concentration

The device uses a set of precise microneedles to reach the interstitial fluid just under the skin. It also includes miniaturized electronics and Bluetooth communication technology to continuously measure drug concentration and display the data on a smartphone within a lightweight wearable platform. The integrated device weighs no more than 6.7 grams and combines in a single wearable system microneedle sensing technology, electrochemical biosensors, integrated electronics, wireless communication, and data display on a smartphone.

Monitoring technologies

The researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of the technology using the drug vancomycin, a common antibiotic used to treat serious infections. This drug requires maintaining its concentration within a relatively narrow range to ensure safety and efficacy, making it a suitable model for testing continuous drug level monitoring technologies. The researchers tested the platform through laboratory experiments and preclinical studies, and it successfully tracked changes in drug concentration in the body over several hours. The results confirm the feasibility of continuously monitoring drug levels using a wearable device based on a minimally invasive sensor.

Treatment monitoring

Professor Khaled Nabil Salama, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at KAUST and lead researcher of the study, said, "Wearable technologies have changed the way individuals track many aspects of their health, from physical activity to heart rate and sleep.

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This research explores whether wearable devices in the future can also help us understand drug behavior inside the body. Although the technology is still in its early stages, it offers a new approach to continuous treatment monitoring rather than relying on sporadic measurements."

Healthcare

The technology still needs further development and clinical validation before it can be used in healthcare facilities. However, the study demonstrates the possibility of building wearable systems that provide continuous data on drug levels in the body. Although the platform was tested with an antibiotic, the researchers believe that the sensing technology can be adapted in the future to monitor the concentration of other drugs that require precise dose adjustment, supporting the development of more personalized treatments tailored to each patient's needs. As the team continues to develop the technology, future research will focus on extending the duration of drug monitoring and tracking their concentration, improving device stability and long-term performance, and testing the platform in a broader range of medical applications.