For children and adults alike, pills can be tough to swallow but researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology may have the solution.
They have developed a gel made from plant-based oils, like sesame to make things go down easier.
According to a post from the MIT News Office, this gel can be made in a variety of different textures from a thickened beverage to a consistency similar to yoghurt.
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The substance is also stable without refrigeration meaning it could be transported to developing nations where there may be high rates of infant and child mortality.
“This platform will change our capacity for what we can do for kids, and also for adults who have difficulty receiving medication. Given the simplicity of the system and its low cost, it could have a tremendous impact on making it easier for patients to take medications,” said Giovanni Traverso, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and senior author of the study about the gel.
Animal studies carried out by the team showed that the gel is an effective vehicle for delivering several treatments for infectious disease such as malaria, parasites, and bacterial infections, in pill form.
The researchers worked diligently to find a combination of oils that are palatable, working with a team of trained tasters to find the most appealing flavour.
It hoped that a clinical trial of the product will begin in a few months.
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