S4 E4: Can a patch reverse a drug overdose?

Wujin Sun joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about a device he’s working on that will automatically detect opioid overdoses and administer life-saving medication. He explained how the device works, the motivations behind it, and the need for an intervention that doesn’t require a bystander’s assistance. 00:00 — A Patch That Could Reverse Overdoses 01:10 — Introducing the iNAL Patch 02:17 — How the Patch Detects Fentanyl and Releases Naloxone 03:17 — Why Overdose Prevention Needs to Work Without a Bystander 04:34 — Protecting Patients Who Need Opioid Pain Relief 05:44 — The Origin of the Research 07:26 — Engineering the Sensor and Drug-Release System 08:33 — How the Patch Controls Naloxone Delivery 10:17 — Testing, Regulation, and the Road to Human Use 11:22 — What a Human-Scale Patch Could Look Like 12:28 — The Vision for Broad Public Access 13:03 — Turning a Lab Innovation Into a Life-Saving Tool Sun is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research interests include cell and biomaterial engineering, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and precision medicine.