Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a lightweight wearable microneedle patch capable of continuously monitoring drug concentrations beneath the skin and wirelessly transmitting the data to a smartphone in real time. Published in Device, the study demonstrates how wearable technologies could move beyond tracking physical activity and vital signs to monitoring therapies inside the body. Tested using the antibiotic vancomycin, the platform successfully tracked changing drug levels in laboratory and preclinical studies, highlighting the potential for future personalized drug management.

Man-made substances surround us everywhere in our daily lives. According to the current understanding of the “Planetary Boundaries” framework, the carrying capacity for so-called novel entities—which include chemicals, microplastics, and nanomaterials—is considered to have been exceeded, and a target value of “zero” has been set for their release into the environment. Now, an international consortium of interdisciplinary experts led by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has concluded that this zero limit is unattainable and impractical, as human societies depend on the services these substances provide. In a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, they propose the introduction of adjusted target values supported by global monitoring that allow for safe use of novel entities while protecting people and the environment.