Wearable Microneedle Patch Monitors Antibiotic Levels in Real Time
Posted on 15 Jul 2026
Therapeutic drug monitoring for agents with narrow therapeutic windows often relies on intermittent blood draws and laboratory analysis, providing only snapshots of exposure. Real-time, minimally invasive tools could give clinicians clearer insight into pharmacokinetics over hours rather than moments. Antibiotic dosing, such as with vancomycin, is a frequent target for individualized monitoring. A new study shows a lightweight wearable microneedle patch can continuously track subcutaneous antibiotic levels and transmit results to a smartphone.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Thuwal, Saudi Arabia) developed an aptamer-based microneedle sensing platform integrated into a 6.7-gram wearable patch. The system combines microneedle access to interstitial fluid with electrochemical biosensing, onboard electronics, wireless communication, and smartphone visualization. It is designed to move dose assessment from periodic sampling toward continuous, real-time measurement.
The technology was demonstrated using vancomycin as a model antibiotic because it must be maintained within a relatively narrow concentration range to remain safe and effective. In laboratory experiments and preclinical studies, the platform successfully tracked changes in drug levels over several hours, indicating feasibility for minimally invasive, continuous pharmacokinetic monitoring. Although tested with an antibiotic, the researchers note the sensing architecture could potentially be adapted for other medicines that require careful dose management.
“Wearable technologies have changed the way people monitor many aspects of their health, from physical activity to heart rate and sleep. This research explores whether future wearable devices could also help us understand how medicines behave inside the body. While the technology is still at an early stage, it demonstrates a new approach to monitoring therapies continuously rather than relying on occasional measurements,” said Khaled Nabil Salama, professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering at KAUST and lead author of the study.
KAUST
