💊 A Smart Capsule Tracks Medication Adherence

Taking medication on schedule is essential for treatment to work—especially for serious conditions like diabetes, HIV, or cancer. Yet up to half of patients with chronic illnesses don't take their medications as prescribed. In the U.S. alone, poor medication adherence is linked to approximately 125,000 deaths every year.

To address this, researchers at MIT developed a capsule called SAFARI. The pill contains a small antenna and an RFID chip.

💻 How It Works

The capsule is coated in cellulose mixed with microscopic metal particles that block radio signals before the pill is taken.

Once the patient swallows the capsule, the shell dissolves in the stomach. The drug is released, the shielding disappears, and an external receiver picks up a signal confirming the dose was taken. The antenna then dissolves, and the tiny RFID chip passes naturally through the body.

The system can send reminders for missed doses and share adherence data with a doctor.

👨‍🔬 The smart capsule has been tested in pigs. Planned human trials should confirm that materials don't accumulate in the body during long-term use. Researchers also need to scale up production, as capsules are still expensive.

@hiaimediaen