Bioresorbable RFID capsule for assessing medication adherence

Medication non-adherence remains a critical healthcare challenge, contributing to approximately 125,000 preventable deaths each year and incurring over $100 billion in annual costs in the United States. Current adherence assessment strategies are constrained by limited scalability, suboptimal patient acceptability, and environmental sustainability concerns. To address these limitations, we developed SAFARI (Smart Adherence via FARaday cage And Resorbable Ingestible), a bioresorbable, passive RFID system that enables precise monitoring of medication ingestion events. The platform incorporates a novel cellulose–metal particle–based radiofrequency (RF) shielding layer, effectively creating a Faraday cage that facilitates reliable signal detection. By employing fully biodegradable materials, SAFARI obviates the need for device retrieval or battery replacement, thereby mitigating electronic waste. Moreover, the tags are compatible with standard gelatin or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules, further enhancing clinical translational potential. In vivo evaluation in swine models corroborated SAFARI’s ability to accurately detect ingestion events while demonstrating complete biodegradation following administration. These findings highlight the system’s potential to improve patient adherence tracking without introducing significant logistical burdens or ecological impact. As such, SAFARI establishes a foundational framework for the development of next-generation, eco-conscious adherence monitoring solutions and associated interventions—ultimately aiming to bolster therapeutic outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditures. Medication non-adherence represents a healthcare challenge, generating over $100 billion in additional costs annually in the USA. Here, the authors developed a resorbable and ingestible system designed for assessing medication adherence. Figure 1. Schematic illustration of capsule based, biodegradable medication adherence tracking system with envisioned scenario for clinical use. A, Bio-RFID capsule administration. B, Shielding coating dissolution and payload release C, Monitoring of the Tag ID and frequency range, recording of the payload for tracking adherence. D, Dissolution and biosorption of the coating, tag and the capsule.