Drug-Loaded Mucoadhesive Patch with Active Delivery and Controlled Releasing Ability

Abstract

Herein, a mucoadhesive patch for gastrointestinal tracts with active delivery, hyperthermia, and controlled drug release function using a magnetically actuated capsule is proposed to overcome the drug delivery and efficiency challenges of wireless structures. The proposed patch has excellent adhesion to the gastrointestinal tract and contains anticancer drug doxorubicin and magnetic nanoparticles. This enables hyperthermia and the controlled release of the loaded drug under an alternating magnetic field (AMF). In addition, it can be delivered to multiple intestinal target lesions using a magnetically actuated capsule. Characteristic analyses of the proposed patch are performed, such as morphology, adhesion force measurement with intestine, temperature change under an AMF, and drug release. The feasibility of the patch delivery into the gastrointestinal tract is verified through locomotion performance tests and ex vivo patch delivery experiments using a magnetically actuated capsule. Finally, through an in vitro therapeutic effect test, the death of tumor cells using the proposed patch is confirmed. As a result, the possibility that the multiple mucoadhesive patches can be delivered to target lesions in a digestive tract through a magnetically actuated capsule and can treat the lesions through hyperthermia and active drug release using an AMF stimulation is verified.