ETH develops suction cup to replace injections

Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) have developed a completely new method of administering medication. Instead of injecting the drugs, they are delivered by way of a suction cup measuring ten millimetres in diameter and six millimetres in height placed on the inside of the patient’s cheek.

The resulting vacuum stretches the mucous membrane, making it more permeable to the active ingredient formulation, further details of which can be found in a press release issued by ETH Zurich. The thick tissue there is also fluidized using endogenous substances so that the active ingredient is able to penetrate into deeper tissue layers. Within just a matter of minutes, the medication is dissolved in saliva and, in this way, can enter the bloodstream directly.

This suction cup solves the problem that many medications, such as those to treat diabetes, obesity or prostate cancer, are composed of relatively large molecules, for example peptides. These cannot usually be swallowed as tablets because the active ingredients are broken down in the digestive tract or remain too large to enter the bloodstream.

This development could ultimately “spare millions of people the fear and pain associated with injections”, as Nevena Paunović explains in the press release. She works together with David Klein Cerrejon at the Chair of Drug Formulation & Delivery headed by Jean-​Christophe Leroux on this topic. Both are keen to bring the prototype and the already patented technology to market with the Zurich-based start-up Transire Bio once all of the regulatory hurdles have been overcome and strong partners and financial resources have been secured. According to the press release, various parties have already signalled their interest. ce/mm