Researchers develop UAV-mediated drug delivery for first aid

Chinese researchers have developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-mediated first-aid system for targeted delivery (uFAST), according to a recent research article published in the journal Advanced Materials.

Timely administration of key medications toward patients with sudden diseases is critical in saving lives, while the laggard transport of first-aid therapeutics and the potential absence of trained people for drug usage always lead to severe injuries or even death.

The new first-aid system allows for the unattended administration of emergency therapeutics-loaded transdermal microneedle patches for patients to relieve symptoms by a contact-triggered microneedle applicator, said the research article.

The researchers from Zhejiang University have demonstrated the implementability and safety of the new first-aid system in a severely hypoglycemic pig model by automatically delivering glucagon.

The uFAST is expected to facilitate the development of wearable physiological monitoring devices, health detection or analysis systems, and advanced drug delivery methods and equipment.