Towards intelligent and miniaturized drug delivery devices.

Wei X., Buse JB., Chen H., Desai TA., Stevens MM., Traverso G., Langer R., Gu Z.

Advances at the intersection of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, electronics and materials science are reshaping how drugs can be delivered inside the body. Intelligent and miniaturized drug delivery devices (IMDDDs) leverage these technologies to achieve precise pharmacokinetics, targeted distribution and programmable release while minimizing toxicity and improving patient adherence. Unlike conventional approaches, IMDDDs can incorporate real-time sensing and adaptive control, enabling drug administration that is more precise and more responsive to dynamic physiological conditions. In this Review, we outline key categories and design principles, highlight artificial intelligence technologies for augmenting performance, discuss potential clinical applications across cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, vaccination and beyond, and examine translation challenges and opportunities. By uniting engineering innovation with medical need, IMDDDs exemplify the next generation of drug delivery technologies.

DOI

10.1038/s41586-026-10221-3

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2026-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

651

Pages

897 - 908

Total pages

11

Addresses

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Neoplasms, Cardiovascular Diseases, Drug Delivery Systems, Miniaturization, Artificial Intelligence

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