Austria | Researchers at TU Wien have developed a groundbreaking technology that enables drugs to be delivered precisely where and when they are needed in the body.The innovation combines electronic ion pumps with advanced “click-to-release” chemistry, creating a system that allows controlled activation of medications directly at the target site. The study, led by Johannes Bintinger, was published in Nature Communications.Traditional drug delivery methods often distribute medication throughout the entire body, meaning only a tiny fraction reaches the affected area. This can reduce effectiveness and cause unwanted side effects. The new approach addresses this limitation by delivering small “trigger molecules” instead of the drug itself.These trigger molecules act like chemical switches, activating drugs that are already positioned at the target site. This allows precise control over dosage and timing, even for large biomolecules such as proteins that were previously difficult to deliver using ion pumps.The system works by implanting a small electronic device that releases the trigger molecules on demand. This makes it possible to regulate treatment with high accuracy, including timing doses to match when a drug is most effective.The breakthrough could significantly improve treatments for localized diseases such as cancer, where reducing side effects is critical. By limiting drug activity to specific areas, patients may require lower doses while achieving better results.Researchers say the technology has broad medical potential, and further studies are planned to move toward clinical applications.
Source: TU Wien
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