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Utilizing an Ingestible Biosensor to Assess Real-Time Medication Adherence

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Abstract

Medication adherence monitoring has relied largely on indirect measures of pill ingestion including patient self-report, pharmacy refills, electronically triggered pill bottles, and pill counts. Our objective is to describe an ingestible biosensor system comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID)-tagged gelatin capsule. Once the capsule dissolves in the stomach, the RFID tag activates to transmit a unique signal to a relay device which transmits a time-stamped message to a cloud-based server that functions as a direct measure of medication adherence. We describe a constellation of mobile technologies that provide real-time direct measures of medication adherence. Optimizing connectivity, relay design, and interactivity with users are important in obtaining maximal acceptability. Potential concerns including gut retention of metallic components of the ingestible biosensor and drug dissolution within a gelatin capsule should be considered. An ingestible biosensor incorporated into a medication management system has the potential to improve medication compliance with real-time monitoring of ingestion and prompt early behavioral intervention. Integration of ingestible biosensors for multiple disease states may provide toxicologists with salient data early in the care of poisoned patients in the future. Further research on device design and interventions to improve adherence is needed and will shape the evolving world of medication adherence.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. J. Castillo-Mancilla is supported by the National Institutes of Health 5K23AI104315-02. Dr. C. Darling is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 5K23HL101991-05. Dr. K. Horvath is supported by the National Institutes of Health 5R34DA033833-04 and 1R34MH105202-01. Dr. P. Hibberd is supported by the National Institutes of Health 5K24AT003683-09. Dr. E. W. Boyer is supported by the National Institutes of Health 1K24DA037109.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Peter R. Chai & Edward W. Boyer

  2. eTect BIO, 107 SW 140th Terrace, Suite 1, Newberry, FL, 32669, USA

    Eric Buffkin

  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Chad Darling

  4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Edwin D. Boudreaux

  5. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, 17200 E 19th Ave, B168, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Jose Castillo-Mancilla

  6. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Cox 506, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Gregory K. Robbins

  7. Division of Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Patricia L. Hibberd

  8. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University Providence, RI, The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI, 02906, USA

    Rochelle K. Rosen

  9. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Keith J. Horvath

Authors
  1. Peter R. Chai
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  2. Jose Castillo-Mancilla
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  3. Eric Buffkin
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  4. Chad Darling
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  5. Rochelle K. Rosen
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  6. Keith J. Horvath
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  7. Edwin D. Boudreaux
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  8. Gregory K. Robbins
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  9. Patricia L. Hibberd
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  10. Edward W. Boyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter R. Chai.

Additional information

Mr. E. Buffkin is President and Chief Operating Officer for eTect BIO.

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Chai, P.R., Castillo-Mancilla, J., Buffkin, E. et al. Utilizing an Ingestible Biosensor to Assess Real-Time Medication Adherence. J. Med. Toxicol. 11, 439–444 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-015-0494-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-015-0494-8

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