Overview
- Nature Communications published a preclinical pig study demonstrating the ingestible adherence-reporting system.
- The capsule houses a zinc–cellulose radio-frequency antenna within a standard gelatin pill coated with cellulose plus molybdenum or tungsten to block signals until dissolution.
- After ingestion, the system confirms swallowing in about 10 minutes and its signal is readable by an external receiver at distances up to roughly two feet.
- Most components biodegrade in the stomach within about a week, while a micrometer-scale off-the-shelf RF chip is excreted through the digestive tract.
- Researchers are conducting further safety studies and developing a wearable receiver, with plans to move toward human testing for high-risk adherence scenarios such as organ transplants and TB/HIV treatment.