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Wearable and implantable devices for drug delivery: Applications and challenges
Kar A, Ahamad N, Dewani M, Awasthi L, Patil R, Banerjee R.. Biomaterials, 2022-02-23
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Poor adherence to drug dosing schedule is responsible for ∼50% of hospitalization cases. Most patients fail to adhere to a strict dosing schedule due to invasive drug administration, off-target toxicities, or medical conditions like dementia. The emerging concept of wearable devices (WDs), implantable devices (IDs) and combined wearable and implantable devices (WIDs) for drug delivery has created new opportunities for treating patients with chronic diseases needing repeated and long-term medical attention like diabetes, ocular disorders, cancer, wound healing, cardiovascular diseases, and contraception. WDs, worn on the body surface have created appealing non-invasive, self-administrable drug delivery platforms which receive huge patient compliance. Microneedle-skin patches, wound healing patches, drug-eluting contact lenses, mouth guards, intra-vaginal rings, pharmaceutical jewelry, and drug-loaded self-care textiles are popular WDs explored in drug delivery. In contrast, IDs are surgically placed inside body tissue allowing higher payload and enhanced localized effect for an extended duration. Hormone micropumps, hydrogel/nanofibrous depot, coronary stents, intravitreal devices, and intrauterine devices are some representative examples of IDs. In this review, we have described the past 10 years of research progress on drug-delivering WDs and IDs in the context of treating diseases that demand repeated and long-term medication, especially those affecting soft tissues. We highlighted several technical challenges that need to be addressed before considering the translation of such technologies to clinics.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kar, A., Ahamad, N., Dewani, M., Awasthi, L., Patil, R., & Banerjee, R. (2022). Wearable and implantable devices for drug delivery: Applications and challenges. Biomaterials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121435
Vancouver
Kar A, Ahamad N, Dewani M, Awasthi L, Patil R, Banerjee R. Wearable and implantable devices for drug delivery: Applications and challenges. Biomaterials. 2022. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121435. PMID: 35227964.
BibTeX
@article{kar2022-35227964,
author = {Kar, A. and Ahamad, N. and Dewani, M. and Awasthi, L. and Patil, R. and Banerjee, R.},
title = {{Wearable and implantable devices for drug delivery: Applications and challenges}},
journal = {Biomaterials},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121435},
pmid = {35227964},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121435}
}
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Key findings
- Microneedle-skin patches, wound healing patches, drug-eluting contact lenses, mouth guards, intra-vaginal rings, pharmaceutical jewelry, and drug-loaded self-care textiles are popular WDs explored in drug delivery.
- In contrast, IDs are surgically placed inside body tissue allowing higher payload and enhanced localized effect for an extended duration.
- Hormone micropumps, hydrogel/nanofibrous depot, coronary stents, intravitreal devices, and intrauterine devices are some representative examples of IDs.
- In this review, we have described the past 10 years of research progress on drug-delivering WDs and IDs in the context of treating diseases that demand repeated and long-term medication, especially those affecting soft tissues.
- We highlighted several technical challenges that need to be addressed before considering the translation of such technologies to clinics.
Why it matters
This review describes wearable and implantable devices for drug delivery in chronic diseases, noting that conditions like dementia can contribute to poor adherence to dosing schedules. It concerns drug delivery technology generally and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Biomaterials) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Biomaterials: journal h-index 494 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 178 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 29.7 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 130 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Rinti Banerjee: h-index 44 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay: institution h-index 408 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35227964) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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