Color-Changing Nanoparticulate Transdermal Patches

Rinti Banerjee of IIT Bombay in India will develop skin patches for safer and more effective dosing of the antibiotic amoxicillin in children with pneumonia in developing countries. Amoxicillin is usually provided as a tablet or powder that requires multiple doses per day, which, along with the bitter taste, is off-putting for children. They will develop amoxicillin-enclosed lipid nanoparticles that mimic the outer surface of the skin, and optimize their size and ability to encapsulate the drug. These nanoparticles will be added to multilayered transdermal patches that allow the continued release of amoxicillin through the skin, and contain a dye that indicates when the patch needs changing. The patches will be first evaluated on pigs' skin, and in mice and rats.