A new, robotic drug capsule was created to allow large proteins, like insulin, to be better delivered and absorbed through the digestive tract which would allow them to be taken orally. This capsule, the RoboCap, uses a unique spinning method to navigate through mucus and create the optimum environment for drug absorption. The main goal of the RoboCap is to release the drug in the exact location that it is needed so the rate of absorption is as high as possible and therefore the most effective.
When large protein or nucleic acid drugs are swallowed, they can’t get through the thick mucus of the digestive tract which means that they aren’t able to reach the target location and don’t have high absorption rates. This is why medications like insulin need to be injected. Shriya Srunuvasan, the lead author of the study, designed the RoboCap to resemble tunnel boring machines drilling into the soil. The newly designed capsule spins through the mucus-like a drill bit until it reaches the desired location.
This spinning action occurs after the gelatin coating is melted and reveals the small studs that propel the capsule. It has been compared to the design of a toothbrush head with little bristles scraping away at plack much like the studs scrape away mucus. As the spinning motion begins, it simultaneously slowly erodes the compartment that contains the drug so it is able to be released when the final destination is reached. Although the current gelatin coating is made to melt when it reaches the pH of the intestines, the coating could be altered to dissolve at a different pH to target other organs. According to a study in Science Robotics, the researchers found that this opens up the possibilities for drugs that could be delivered using this method. The RoboCap even has the ability to be used for topical drugs by amplifying the concentration and therefore more intensely treating inflammation in cases like ulcerative colitis.
In animal studies, researchers found that the RoboCap can deliver 20 to 40 times more product than the standard, nonrotating capsule. It enhances the distribution of both small molecules and macromolecules. Potential concerns, like irritation, inflammation, and long-term disruption of the mucus layer, were shown to not be consequences of using the RoboCap. Even the mucus layer that was tunneled through and displaced returns to its original state on its own after a few hours. The body of the RoboCap that does not dissolve is able to pass through the rest of the body without any issues.
Overall, the RoboCap has proven to be a successful capsule in delivering protein drugs to the specifically intended destination using its spinning design. This new method has the potential to impact the delivery of other drugs and change the way pills can be used.
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