Soft robotic drug-delivery device overcomes fibrotic encapsulation

Drug-delivery devices can be implanted in the body to deliver drugs sustainably in a controlled manner — for example, for the long-term treatment of chronic diseases. However, the immune system reacts to implanted materials by depositing a dense layer of fibrous scar tissue around the device, which ultimately compromises its function. Now, writing in Science Robotics, Ellen T. Roche, Garry P. Duffy and team have developed a soft robotic drug-delivery device that can sense and respond to the formation of scar tissue in real time to maintain its ability to deliver drugs long-term.

To detect and respond to fibrotic capsule formation, the researchers designed a biocompatible soft robotic drug-delivery device known as FibroSensing Dynamic Soft Reservoir, which consists of a fibrotic-sensing membrane that can monitor physiological signals related to the formation of fibrotic capsules. This information is then harnessed in a feedback system to inform a mechanical actuation regime to precisely deliver a consistent drug dose, regardless of the level of fibrosis.