MIT scientists develop capsules to deliver drugs directly to the intestine

(RTTNews) – Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology along with researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Novo Nordisk (NVO) have developed a new capsule capable of delivering drugs directly into the gastrointestinal tract, revolutionizing the game oral administration of drugs.

Inspired by jet-propelled squid, the needle-free microjet system could increase drug absorption and address challenges associated with traditional injections.

“One of the long-standing challenges we have been exploring is the development of systems that enable oral delivery of macromolecules that typically require an injection to deliver. This work represents one of the next major advances in this progression,” said the main author. Giovanni Traverso.

During the study, scientists experimented with tissue from the digestive tract. They calculated the exact pressure required to expel the drugs into the tissues. Later, they designed capsules to target different parts of the digestive tract.

“Besides sharps removal, another potential advantage of high-velocity column jets is their robustness to localization issues. Unlike a small needle, which must have intimate contact with tissue, our experiments indicated that a jet might be able to deliver most of the dose from a distance or at a slight angle,” Arrick added.

In animal tests, researchers used these capsules to deliver insulin and the diabetes drug Ozempic. They noted that the drug concentration reached in the animals’ blood was the same as that of drugs injected with needles.

Scientists expect the innovative capsules to make it easier to administer the drug at home, eliminating the need for sharp needles.

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