Wearable devices have transformed the way people track exercise, sleep, heart rate, and other vital signs. Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are currently studying whether similar technology could one day help monitor medicines in the body.
In a new study published in deviceKAUST researchers have developed a wearable microneedle patch that can continuously measure drug levels under the skin and wirelessly transmit data to a smartphone in real time. This study points to a future where wearable technology can provide continuous information not only about physical activity and vital signs, but also about treatments within the body.
Many medicines that require careful dosing are now monitored by regular blood tests followed by laboratory tests. These tests only provide a snapshot of drug levels at a specific point in time, so they can take some time to process. The KAUST platform was designed to explore whether continuous monitoring could provide a more complete picture of how drugs move through the body over time.
This device uses a series of tiny microneedles that access the interstitial fluid just beneath the skin. Combining small electronics and Bluetooth connectivity, the system continuously measures drug concentrations and displays the information on a smartphone through a lightweight wearable platform.
The researchers demonstrated their technique using vancomycin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat serious infections. Drugs must be maintained within a relatively narrow concentration range to maintain safety and efficacy, making them an ideal test case for techniques designed to continuously monitor drugs.
The completed device weighs just 6.7 grams and combines microneedle sensing, electrochemical biosensors, onboard electronics, wireless communication, and smartphone visualization into a single wearable system.
Wearable technology has changed the way people monitor many aspects of their health, from physical activity to heart rate to sleep. This study explores whether future wearable devices can also help us understand how drugs work in the body. Although this technology is still in its infancy, it represents a new approach to continuously monitoring treatment rather than relying on occasional measurements. ”
Khaled Nabil Salama, professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering at KAUST and lead author of the study
The researchers tested the platform in laboratory and preclinical studies and were able to track changes in drug concentrations over several hours. Although further development and clinical validation is required before this technology can be used in clinical settings, the results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of continuous wearable drug monitoring using a minimally invasive sensor platform.
Although demonstrated using antibiotics, the researchers believe this sensing platform could be applied in the future to other drugs that require careful dose monitoring, helping support more personalized treatment approaches.
The team continues to develop the technology, and future studies will focus on extending monitoring periods, improving long-term stability, and evaluating the platform across a broader range of medical applications.
sauce:
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Reference magazines:
Tziban, Y. others. (2026). Aptamer-based microneedle sensing platform for in vivo drug monitoring. device. DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2026.101205. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2666998626001572?dgcid=coauthor
