Magnetic Marker Monitoring is a newly developed system to analyze motion sequences in closed systems. What happens in the organism after taking a tablet? This is a question many patients and physicians ask, and there is an answer: magnetic marker monitoring.
What is Magnetic Marker Monitoring?
Magnetic Marker Monitoring is used to track the path of tablets, coated tablets, capsules, etc. in hard-to-reach places. It is mainly used in gastroenterology, specifically for observations in the gastrointestinal tract. Magnetic Marker Monitoring is a method used to track the path of tablets, coated tablets, capsules, etc. in hard-to-reach places. Magnetic Marker Monitoring is mainly used in gastroenterology (branch of internal medicine, mainly the gastrointestinal tract). The active ingredients of drugs have become more and more powerful since the rapid development of chemical-pharmaceutical research since the 20th century. Especially to control an effect of a drug, this method is used. How fast does the drug act, when does it act and where exactly does it act?
Function, effect and goals
Prof. Werner Weitschies, in collaboration with the Charité Hospital in Berlin and scientists from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), developed and specified this method. The patient swallows a bionized (compatible with the organism) capsule with a magnetic core in combination with 100 ml of water. Magnetic microparticles consisting of black iron oxide are used. Iron oxide is non-toxic and is also used as a colorant in food. It is excreted unchanged from the organism. After incorporation (ingestion of substances and objects) of the capsule, placed under a magnetic field sensitive sensor field, the ingested capsule can be observed on its way in the gastrointestinal tract. This is possible using highly sensitive superconducting sensors (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices = SQUIDs). A superconductor refers to materials whose electrical resistance drops (abruptly) to zero when the temperature falls below the so-called transition temperature. Due to the small amount of iron oxide in the capsule, measurement in the magnetic field is possible. The magnetic induction generated is very low. However, in order not to disturb the measurement, such as from another magnetic field or the earth’s magnetic field, care is taken to provide a magnetically protected room. It is about three by four meters in size and surrounded by several layers of a special metal alloy. This massive shielding fills the rest of the 15 meter high cube-shaped building. One possibility to carry out this procedure is in Berlin – Charlottenburg. Since the experiment can last up to 24 hours, depending on the duration of the decomposition of the capsule, it is a test of patience for the experiment participant. During this time, it is not necessary for the participant to spend the entire time under the sensor field. In fact, movement in between promotes digestion, which makes the measurement more true to reality. When the capsule reaches the specific area of the body for which it is intended, the magnetic field is destroyed by pressing a button, and the test material is delivered for absorption (substance uptake in biological systems). On average, up to 250 images are recorded in one second in as many different positions as possible, allowing the process to be followed with high precision. Another advantage is the conversion of the images into a three-dimensional representation on the monitor. Studied are:
- The behavior of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract:
Each drug acts differently and decomposes at different rates. If you take several pills at the same time, they can sometimes lose their effect or cause dangerous side effects.
- The influence of the dosage form (amount and form of the drug):
There are different types of delivery and which is the best depends, for example, where and how quickly the tablet should act. Also, whether it is a pill, capsule, suppository or juice – in each case, you need to pay attention to specifics.
- The interaction of drug with meals:
Not only food ingredients or drugs can interact with each other in the human organism – but also reciprocally.These interactions that can occur are manifold. For example, depending on the underlying mechanism, changes in drug action or nutrient supply may result.
- Drug delivery from gastrointestinal sites is localized:
Here, it is determined in which area drugs dissolve and where they show their effect. The goal after such an investigation is to optimize drug delivery systems, for example, to target the effect of the drug in a specific section of the intestine.
Risks, side effects and hazards
Due to the low magnetic radiation, this examination with the magnetic flux density is lower than that of an MRI – examination (magnetic resonance tomography). In case of obesity or implants, the use of Magnetic Marker Monitoring is excluded. There is also a risk that certain drugs could cause diseases in the esophagus. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that people who suffer from dysphagia take the medication in a crushed form. This can best be done with a small addition of pureed food. In general, attention should also be paid to not taking the tablet while lying down, as it could get stuck in the esophagus or disintegrate. Currently, it is only possible to observe a dosage form on its way. However, research is working under great pressure to further develop and expand magnetic monitoring. This should make it possible to track and document the path of up to five tablets at a time.
