Background: Autoinjectors (automatic injection devices) for self-administration of medication must function reliably even under military conditions. Key factors include the actual delivered volume and the bioavailability of the injected substance.

Problem: Current testing methods of autoinjectors are complex and expensive, as they require experiments on animals or humans.
Approach: The goal of the INERT project is to develop a standardized testing method based on tissue samples, micro-CT imaging, and AI-supported analysis, that will enable reliable evaluation of autoinjectors for military use in the future.

Implementation: Pharmacokinetic data on volume and bioavailability, which are critical for the functional assessment of different autoinjector systems, will be collected using tissue samples. Based on this data, a standardized testing procedure will be developed. This procedure will allow a substance to be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly, with the injection process being captured in high resolution using micro-CT imaging. The resulting imaging data will then be segmented, analyzed, and simulated using AI to precisely determine the volume, surface area, and spatial distribution of the injected fluid.

Expected Results: The testing method will enable the objective evaluation of the functionality of various autoinjectors in terms of reproducibility, delivered volume, bioavailability, and absorption time. This will provide, for the first time, an animal-free, cost-effective, and meaningful alternative to existing testing methods.