This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Blood clots that develop after spinal surgery can lead to serious complications. When blood accumulates around the spinal cord, it may increase pressure on surrounding nerves, potentially causing severe pain, muscle weakness or even paralysis.
Early detection and timely treatment are therefore essential. However, continuously monitoring these complications remains challenging, and conventional treatments may require additional surgery. To address this problem, an international research team led by professor Zong-Hong Lin at National Taiwan University has developed a biodegradable smart patch that combines pressure monitoring with ultrasound-triggered drug delivery.
This technology offers an approach to detecting pressure changes and delivering treatment directly to affected areas. The research is published in the journal Nano Energy. The patch is made from extremely thin fibers composed of a biodegradable polymer and glycine, a naturally occurring amino acid.
These fibers exhibit a special property called piezoelectricity, allowing them to generate electrical signals when subjected to mechanical pressure. By monitoring these signals, the patch can detect changes in pressure without requiring an external power source for sensing. In laboratory experiments, the patch demonstrated pressure sensitivity, producing electrical signals of approximately 8 volts under an applied pressure of 80 pascals.
This capability highlights its potential for monitoring pressure changes associated with blood clot formation. Beyond monitoring, the researchers incorporated urokinase, a medication that helps dissolve blood clots, into the inner structure of the fibers. When ultrasound is applied from outside the body, the fibers respond by releasing the medication in a controlled manner.
This approach could potentially allow treatment to be delivered when needed while reducing unnecessary drug release. Under ultrasound stimulation, the patch released approximately six times more urokinase than under unstimulated conditions. In laboratory blood clot experiments, the system achieved approximately 70% clot degradation, demonstrating the potential of combining pressure sensing and controlled drug delivery in a single biodegradable device.
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