Tailored piezoelectric chitosan thin film for ultrasound-controlled drug delivery

Ordinary drug administration routes, such as oral and intravenous, are characterized by strong drug fluctuation levels in the blood, causing either toxic effects or inefficient therapeutic results. Hence, it is crucial to develop stimuli-responsive materials that precisely control the position and time of the delivery of drugs for a targeted administration and reduced side effects. To this aim, we developed an ultrasound-sensitive thin, biocompatible and sustainable piezoelectric chitosan film, which can be wirelessly activated by ultrasound, allowing for controlled release both in superficial and deep body compartments. We developed a protocol to easily tailor the properties of the film by embedding different molecules without compromising its piezoelectric behavior and to release, in a controlled on/off manner, more than 80% of the drug in less than 3 hours. The material´s potential was demonstrated with Doxorubicin, an antineoplastic agent, in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell culture, paving the way for enhanced and on-demand wireless drug release.