BBT researchers develop a hydrogel similar to our skin with the ability to release drugs using magnetic heads

Imagine that there is a dressing on sale that, when placed on the skin, can release drugs exactly when the body needs them, without the need for pills or needles. This is what our research group, led by Dr. José Manuel García, has achieved as part of the PhD thesis of student Ángel Viteri, who has developed a new type of hydrogel with properties similar to human skin capable of releasing antibiotics in a controlled manner through the application of a simple magnet.

This smart material is made up of natural and biocompatible components, chitosan and agarose, combined with magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄). When a magnetic field is applied to it, the hydrogel modifies its internal structure to reduce the rate of release of the drug vancomycin. This finding opens the door to more precise and personalized treatments, especially useful in wound healing.

What makes this hydrogel particularly promising is its flexibility, its compatibility with human cells and its mechanical properties, very similar to those of the skin. The team has shown that by increasing the amount of magnetite, the dose of the released drug can be better controlled. In addition, the material is manufactured using a simple, ecological and easy-to-scale process for clinical applications. Using only a permanent magnet, the system allows the release of the drug to be modulated non-invasively and on demand, thus reducing the risk of excess medication and bacterial resistance.

The study has also confirmed the antibacterial effect of the system through experiments with bacterial cultures. The results show that both the composition of the hydrogel and the intensity of the magnetic field allow the amount of antibiotic released to be precisely adjusted. This innovation could lead to a new generation of bandages and implants that actively adapt to the patient's needs simply with an external magnet.

The study, published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, can be consulted for free, as it is open access:

A. Viteri, M. Espanol, M.P. Ginebra, J. García-Torres. Tailoring drug release from skin-like chitosan-agarose biopolymer hydrogels containing Fe3O4 nanoparticles using magnetic fields. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 517, 1 August 2025, 164214. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164214. OPEN ACCESS.