Bioengineers at Rice University have developed a groundbreaking technology called PULSED (Particles Uniformly Liquified and Sealed to Encapsulate Drugs), which enables the creation of time-release medications and vaccines potentially lasting for months. This innovation addresses a significant healthcare issue: many patients fail to take their medications as prescribed, leading to critical health consequences and estimated annual costs over $100 billion in the U.S. Conventional drug encapsulation methods often result in inconsistent dosing, where a large portion of the drug is released early, compromising treatment effectiveness. PULSED overcomes these challenges by using advanced 3D printing and soft lithography to create biodegradable microcylinders that can be injected through standard hypodermic needles. These cylinders can be loaded with drugs and customized to release their contents over varying timeframes, from ten days to nearly five weeks. This technology is particularly promising for applications in vaccination, especially in low-resource settings, and for targeted cancer treatments, allowing for concentrated medication delivery to tumors while minimizing side effects. The research, led by Kevin McHugh and Tyler Graf, marks a significant advancement in drug delivery systems, potentially improving patient compliance and treatment outcomes.
