Delivering biochemicals with precision using bioelectronic devices enhanced with feedback control

Abstract

Precision medicine tailors treatment in a way that accounts for variations in patient response. Treatment strategies can be determined based on factors such as genetic mutations, age, and diet. Another way of implementing precision medicine in a dynamic fashion is through bioelectronics equipped with real-time sensing and intelligent actuation. Bioelectronic devices such as ion pumps can be utilized to deliver therapeutic drugs. To be able to perform precision medicine, medical devices need to be able to deliver drugs with high precision. For this, closed-loop control is required to be able to change the treatment strategy as new information about the response and progression of the biological system is received. To this end, a sliding mode controller is utilized given its ability to perform satisfactory control actions when there is model uncertainty. The controller is used in an experiment with the goal of delivering a pre-determined dosage of fluoxetine throughout a period of time.