Drug Releasing Implant that is Magnetically Triggered
Month by month, it seems, bioengineers are finding increasingly clever means for controlling drug release with implanted devices. This piece describes such work at the University of British Columbia with an implanted device where the amount of drug it releases depends on the strength of a magnet. Quoting directly: “The device consists of a sponge made from silicone that has a coating made from magnetic carbonyl iron particles. A drug in liquid form is injected into the implant, which absorbs it and keeps it secure. After it’s implanted into the patient, a strong enough magnetic field can pull on the coating, squeezing the sponge within and releasing the drug. The dosage of the drug released during each treatment can be controlled by applying different magnets over the skin near the site of the implant.” MORE WITH VIDEO