New Needle-Coated Capsule Could Replace Injections

Oct. 2, 2014

A new drug capsule coated with tiny needles can deliver drugs directly into the lining of the digestive tract, enabling patients to take drugs orally instead of getting an injection.

While most patients prefer to take a drug orally instead of getting an injection, many drugs cannot be given as a pill because they get broken down in the stomach before they can be absorbed. Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have designed a novel drug capsule coated with tiny needles that can inject drugs directly into the lining of the stomach after the capsule is swallowed.

The prototype acrylic capsule, 2-centimeters long and 1-centimeter in diameter, includes a reservoir for the drug and is coated with hollow, stainless steel needles about 5-millimeters long. Researchers tested their capsule with insulin, but anticipate that it would be most useful for delivering biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies.

Read the Science Daily article