Unite! Pioneer Biodegradable Smart Patches for Precision Drug Delivery
The project, led by Professors Sílvia Pérez Rafael and Lourdes Franco from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), also involves researchers from Politecnico di Torino and TU Graz.
“Smart Soft Actuated Transdermal Delivery System for Controlled Drug Release”, has been selected as one of the initiatives funded by the Unite! Seed Fund 2025. Its aim is to develop flexible and biodegradable devices for transdermal drug delivery, providing precise and controlled dosage, high comfort, and compatibility with a wide range of pharmaceuticals.
Current transdermal drug delivery systems face multiple limitations, particularly regarding their ability to overcome the natural barrier of the skin and adapt to the specific needs of each patient. The UPC-led project seeks to change this paradigm through the development of a new generation of smart patches, based on biodegradable materials and actuators, that will enable:
- Controlled and on-demand drug release through the application of thermal, mechanical, or electrical stimuli.
- Improved skin permeability to facilitate transdermal penetration of a wide spectrum of drugs.
- The use of sustainable and biocompatible materials with advanced functionalities, such as hybrid hydrogels and active nanoparticles.
- Real-time monitoring of the release process through integrated sensors.
Developed in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino (Italy) and TU Graz (Austria), the project adopts a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach that combines the expertise of the three universities in materials science, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology to achieve ambitious goals.
Supporting young talent and female leadership
The project promotes the professional development of early-career researchers, including doctoral candidates, who will have the opportunity to co-design methodologies, share research infrastructures, and publish results in high-impact journals. It also highlights the leadership of a female UPC researcher who, through Unite!, is strengthening her academic trajectory in an international environment.
Leading this international project is both an exciting challenge and a valuable opportunity for professional growth. The support from the alliance will allow us to explore the potential of new hybrid systems combining polymers and soft actuators, seeking functional materials with low environmental impact and high-impact applications, such as personalised drug delivery systems, integration into physiological monitoring wearables, or rehabilitation devices
With an initial duration of 12 months, the project includes activities such as training workshops, scientific publications, and the preparation of a proposal to obtain European funding (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, or national programmes). The project’s culmination foresees a functional demonstrator of the smart patch and a joint research article involving all consortium partners.
Research team
- Sílvia Pérez Rafael, Lourdes Franco (PDI) and Pablo Alonso González (PhD) – Department of Chemical Engineering, UPC
- Stefano Stassi (PDI) – Politecnico di Torino
- Maria José Arias Belduque (PhD) – Politecnico di Torino
- Rupert Kargl (PDI) – Graz University of Technology
- Karin Stana Kleinschek (PDI) – Graz University of Technology