The University of San Diego developed a unique capsule that releases medication in the body on a set schedule by itself. The device consists of multiple compartments with drugs separated by special barriers that dissolve at different rates thanks to a specific formulation. This design allows researchers to precisely control the timing of each dose.
In laboratory testing, the capsule showed high accuracy using levodopa as an example—levodopa being a primary medicine for Parkinson’s disease. The capsule also contains magnesium, which is described as accelerating the action of the first dose and initiating the next stage of release.
For older people, the approach means they do not need to remember how many tablets they have already taken. For patients with chronic conditions, it may offer a chance for more stable well-being without constant monitoring.
The team is preparing for animal studies and is also exploring ways to expand how long the capsule can deliver medication. In the longer term, the researchers aim to create “tablets for the day” for people who take multiple medications.
