April 4, 2007 — Instead of settling for the bling of gold, a more practical person seeking a false tooth might eventually be able to get one that can deliver drugs.
Researchers in Europe and Israel, funded by the European Union, are working on a tiny drug-dispensing system called IntelliDrug that goes into a person's mouth — with the ultimate goal of getting the parts small enough to fit into a replacement tooth placed in the back like a molar.
The device can release a specific amount of medicine at certain intervals, ensuring that the patient gets the proper dosage at the right time.
Patients, on average, follow instructions on taking drugs only half the time, even for people who need them to survive, said Dr. Andy Wolff, an Israeli dentist who initially came up with the concept. Patients often forget or find it too inconvenient to take medicine, especially in the middle of the night. He believes the device will rectify the problem by automating the process.
Wolff's company, Saliwell Ltd., and German microelectronics institute HSG-IMIT are two of 15 organizations involved with the development of the device. The project is funded by a program that promotes cooperation between EU nations and Israel. The organizations include universities, companies, research institutes and hospitals.
One notable name is Spanish telephone company Telefonica SA, which is helping with the communications technology side of the development.
By placing the device in the mouth, the drug can be delivered directly into the bloodstream through the lining of the cheek and around the mouth, a surface that is porous enough to absorb the medicine. Saliva, meanwhile, mixes with the drug and carries it to the lining more consistently than just swallowing a pill every few hours.
"Why in the mouth? It's very accessible, it's very permeable, not like your skin," Wolff said.
The treatment of diabetes is one area where delivering drugs can be advantageous. People with diabetes must take regular injections of insulin to maintain low blood-glucose levels. Instead of pricking their skin, patients can wear the IntelliDrug device for a little while.
