Application of Internet of Things in Cell-Based Therapy Delivery: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Abstract

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: Internet of Things (IoT) or Industry 4.0, represents a ‘smart’ shift to more interconnected manufacturing processes where individual entities within the supply chain communicate with each other in order to achieve greater flexibility and responsiveness in manufacturing and leaner manufacturing to reduce cost of production. IoT has proven itself instrumental in driving leaner manufacturing and more efficient systems in other industries such as transportation and logistics. While cell-based therapeutic products hold the promise of transforming various diseases, the delivery of these products is complex and challenging. Objective: This review aims to understand the applicability of IoT in cell-based product supply chain and delivery. Methods: We will search Medline, EMBASE (OvidSP), Web of Science, Cochrane Library & HEED, Scopus, ACM digital library, INSPEC, ScienceDirect and the IEEE Xplore Digital Library for studies published after 2008 using a combination of keywords and subject headings related to IoT used in cell therapies. In addition, a Google search to identify grey literature will be conducted. Two authors will independently screen the titles and abstracts identified from the search and accept or reject the studies according to the study inclusion criteria, and any discrepancies will then be discussed and resolved. The quality of the selected literature will be assessed using the CASP Systematic Review checklist. Results: Data from eligible publications will be abstracted into a predesigned form in order to map the current and future directions of the technologies, application and challenges in the implementation of IoT in regenerative medicine. Conclusions: This study is an analysis of publicly available primary and secondary literature and therefore does not require ethical review. The executed study conducted later will be published in a peer-reviewed journal in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.