Though many patients would prefer an oral drug, as opposed to an injection, many drugs cannot be given in pill form due to the fact they are broken down in the stomach prior to absorption.
To address this issue, the MIT researchers’ capsule is covered with hollow, stainless steel needles 5 millimeters in length. The GI tract has no pain receptors, allowing the capsule to pass through a patient’s digestive tract without causing discomfort. Researchers are also working on developing needles made of degradable polymer and sugar, which would break off in the GI tract and slowly release the drug.
The research team found that the capsule delivered insulin more effectively than the traditional subcutaneous injection. Though yet to be tested, the researchers anticipate it would an effective method of delivering biologics for autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease.
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