An international research team led by scientists from Beihang University in Beijing has developed an ultra-flexible bioelectronic patch capable of conforming to irregularly shaped organs, enabling precise and localized drug or gene delivery.
The breakthrough device, dubbed POCKET, can closely hug organs such as ovaries and kidneys like a “second skin,” overcoming a major limitation of traditional systemic drug administration, which is often associated with off-target effects and poor cellular uptake. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Cell.
The patch functions like a “smart electronic garment” that wraps tightly around organs, allowing medicines to be delivered directly into diseased cells rather than flooding the entire body.
The research was inspired by a clinical dilemma faced by women carrying hereditary BRCA1 mutations, who are often advised to have both ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent cancer, a decision that permanently ends fertility. Patients frequently ask if alternative treatments exist.
Existing gene therapies, such as viral vectors, carry risks of integrating into germ line genomes and contaminating the human gene pool, making them unsuitable for use in sensitive reproductive organs.
To address this, the team adopted a physical approach using controlled electric fields to temporarily open cell membranes, enabling precise targeting of somatic cells on the ovarian surface while avoiding germ line cells.
However, the ovary’s rugged and irregular surface has long prevented conventional devices from achieving conformal contact. Drawing inspiration from paper-cutting art, the researchers engineered a customizable patch that achieves more than 95 percent surface coverage on complex organs.
The four-layer device integrates nanopores, a drug-loaded hydrogel reservoir, silver nanowire electrodes and a flexible substrate, all patterned using femtosecond laser processing.
When a low-voltage current is applied, localized electric fields generated by the nanopores open microscopic channels in nearby cell membranes, allowing therapeutic agents to enter directly. This method improves delivery efficiency by nearly 1,000 times compared to passive diffusion, while avoiding damage to deeper tissues.
In preclinical trials, the patch successfully delivered BRCA1 gene therapy to ovarian surface cells in mice without affecting reproductive cells, reducing cancer risk and restoring fertility.
In kidney transplant models, localized delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs using POCKET preserved renal function and eliminated systemic side effects, such as osteoporosis and immunosuppression, commonly associated with oral steroid treatments.
The technology represents a new paradigm for treating diseases in sensitive or structurally complex organs, said Chang Lingqian of Beihang University, a co-corresponding author of the study.
The platform could also be adapted for treating diabetes, retinal disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, Chang added.
