Background

Conducting polymers such as PEDOT are promising materials for bioelectronic medicine as they have the have the ability to entrap active pharmaceutical ingredients and electrically control their release with high spatial and temporal precision. Most existing conducting polymer drug delivery systems require wired electrodes which limits the practical implementation of an implantable therapeutic device. This work employs ‘wirefree’ electrochemistry, providing a wireless, precise, delivery of the therapeutic.

Research

This work demonstrates the electrically stimulated release of a model drug at specific locations along a single PEDOT film, without the need for direct wire connections. By using wireless electrochemistry, specific regions of the conducting polymer could be activated to release drug molecules in a spatially selective manner. The study provides a proof-of-concept for more precise and programmable drug delivery platforms based on polymer materials.

Potential Impact

Many drugs are administered in repeated doses, where the concentration of the drug in the body rises after administration and then gradually decreases until the next dose is required. Entrapping drugs in a protective conducting polymer film and delivering them to a specific location upon electrical stimulation could help maintain treatment where it is most needed while reducing the amount of drug exposed to the rest of the body.