Drug delivery

MIT engineers have designed a capsule that unfolds in the stomach after being swallowed, and can gradually deliver one month’s worth of a contraceptive drug. Pictured here is the preclinical version tested in a new MIT study.

Monthly birth control pill could replace daily doses

Long-lasting capsule can remain in the stomach and release contraceptive drugs over several weeks.

December 4, 2019

MIT engineers created clusters of nanoparticles that are coated with “right-handed” molecules of the amino acid cysteine.

Nanoparticle orientation offers a way to enhance drug delivery

Coating particles with “right-handed” molecules could help them penetrate cancer cells more easily.

November 5, 2019

A new type of polymer designed by MIT chemists incorporates a special monomer (yellow) that helps the polymers to break down more easily under certain conditions.

New synthesis method yields degradable polymers

Materials could be useful for delivering drugs or imaging agents in the body; may offer alternative to some industrial plastics.

October 28, 2019

Cell stiffness may indicate whether tumors will invade

Study shows tumors with softer, larger cells at their periphery are more likely to spread; may suggest new route for cancer therapy.

October 21, 2019

X-ray images at top left show the drug-delivery capsule in the intestine, before and after the arms expand. At right, the arms are unfolded to reveal the microneedles.

New capsule can orally deliver drugs that usually have to be injected

Coated pill carries microneedles that deliver insulin and other drugs to the lining of the small intestine.

October 7, 2019

MIT engineers have developed robotic thread (in black) that can be steered magnetically and is small enough to work through narrow spaces such as the vasculature of the human brain. The researchers envision the technology may be used in the future to clear blockages in patients with stroke and aneurysms.

Robotic thread is designed to slip through the brain’s blood vessels

Magnetically controlled device could deliver clot-reducing therapies in response to stroke or other brain blockages.

August 28, 2019

MIT engineers created a DNA-acrylamide gel that can be degraded by DNA-editing enzymes. At right, the gel is broken down after two hours of exposure to a DNA "trigger sequence." At left, the gel is exposed to DNA that doesn't contain the trigger sequence, so it remains intact.

Using CRISPR to program gels with new functions

Smart materials change properties in response to specific DNA sequences; could be used in a variety of devices.

August 22, 2019

Diagram illustrates the structure of the tiny bubbles, called liposomes, used to deliver drugs. The blue spheres represent lipids, a kind of fat molecule, surrounding a central cavity containing magnetic nanoparticles (black) and the drug to be delivered (red). When the nanoparticles are heated, the drug can escape into the body.

A new way to deliver drugs with pinpoint targeting

Magnetic particles allow drugs to be released at precise times and in specific areas.

August 19, 2019

Caring for her community

PhD candidate and co-founder of Graduate Women in Chemical Engineering Lisa Volpatti works to support her fellow graduate students.

July 9, 2019

MIT chemical engineers have devised a way to convert liquid nanoemulsions into solid gels. These gels (red) form almost instantaneously when drops of the liquid emulsion enter warm water.

“Nanoemulsion” gels offer new way to deliver drugs through the skin

Novel materials made with FDA-approved components could deliver large payloads of active ingredients.

June 21, 2019

3Q: Susan Hockfield on a new age of living machines

Convergence research at MIT and beyond seeks new solutions for global challenges.

May 7, 2019

MIT engineers have designed a magnetic microrobot that can help push drug-delivery particles into tumor tissue (left). They also employed swarms of naturally magnetic bacteria to achieve the same effect (right).

Nanoparticles take a fantastic, magnetic voyage

Tiny robots powered by magnetic fields could help drug-delivery nanoparticles reach their targets.

April 26, 2019

A representative prototype of a gastric resident device researchers have created to slowly release antibiotics in a patient's stomach over time.

Reducing the burden of tuberculosis treatment

Drug delivery system would allow patients to switch from daily to monthly doses.

March 13, 2019

The binding interface between a peptide and its Bcl-2 protein target is composed of common structural motifs known as TERMs.

Predicting sequence from structure

Researchers have devised a faster, more efficient way to design custom peptides and perturb protein-protein interactions.

February 15, 2019

An MIT-led research team has developed a drug capsule that could be used to deliver oral doses of insulin.

New pill can deliver insulin

Capsule that releases insulin in the stomach could replace injections for patients with type 1 diabetes.

February 7, 2019

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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