Self-Powered Pulse Generator for Drug Delivery

University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed a self-powered pulse generator that uses mechanical force to produce controlled high-voltage electrical pulses to deliver drugs, gene therapy, and more, through the skin and into cells, eliminating the need for batteries.

Description

Drug delivery and gene therapy face fundamental barriers; topical treatments have minimal skin penetration, systemic therapies require high doses with significant side effects, but one positive technology is the use of electroporators – a fundamental technique in microbiology and biotechnology where an electric field is applied to cells to briefly increase the permeability of the cell membrane. Currently available electroporators used for drug and gene delivery rely on heavy batteries or external wall power, making them impractical for portable clinical use. Also, used electroporators generate long electrical pulses that risk damaging tissue. There is a clear need for a lightweight, battery-free, portable system that generates short, precise electrical pulses for safe and effective drug delivery without external power sources.

Applications

Gene therapy
Drug delivery
Tissue regeneration and stimulation

Advantages

This self-powered pulse generator converts mechanical force into high-voltage electrical pulses (1 V to 50,000 V) with precise control, eliminating the need for batteries. Weighing less than 10 grams and manually operated, the device is portable and easy to use. A piezoelectric crystal compresses when mechanical force is applied, generating electrical pulses that can be precisely tuned by material selection. Interchangeable microchips loaded with drugs, DNA, or RNA, deliver cargo through hollow channels or microneedles when activated by these electrical pulses. Optional heating and ultrasound modules enhance drug delivery. The reusable housing with disposable chips reduces treatment costs while enabling versatile multi-modal therapy.

Invention Readiness

Fully functional prototypes have been constructed and successfully tested, producing reliable electrical pulses across the target voltage and pulse width ranges. Piezoelectric materials have been optimized and microchips with integrated reservoirs and delivery channels have been validated. The system operates via manual trigger or external control (Bluetooth, RF, NFC). Current readiness: Advanced preclinical; prototypes have validated mechanical and electrical performance and are ready for animal studies and clinical development.

IP Status

Patent pending

Related Publication(s)

Xuan, Y. et al (2023) Tissue Nanotransfection Silicon Chip and Related Electroporation-Based Technologies for In Vivo Tissue Reprogramming. Nanomaterials 19;14(2):217 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10820803/

Clark, A. et al (2022) Myogenic tissue nanotransfection improves muscle torque recovery following volumetric muscle loss. NPJ Regen Med. 20;7:63 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9585072/