Low-Cost IoT System for Real-Time Monitoring of Oncology Drug Cold Chain in Resource-Limited Settings
Italo Lon-Kan, Carlos Lon-KanPURPOSE
Monoclonal antibody therapies used in cancer treatment, including trastuzumab, bevacizumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab, require strict storage conditions between 2°C and 8°C to maintain stability and therapeutic efficacy. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), cold chain monitoring still relies on manual temperature recording, which limits traceability and delays detection of temperature excursions. This study presents an adaptation of an open-source IoT-based system for real-time monitoring of oncology drug storage conditions.
METHODS
The proposed system is based on MHUTEMP, a low-cost IoT monitoring platform integrating an ESP32 microcontroller and a calibrated DS18B20 temperature sensor with ±0.1°C accuracy. The system uses WebSocket communication for real-time data transmission to a Node.js backend, enabling continuous monitoring with updates every 2 seconds. Data are visualized through a web-based dashboard and stored in a MongoDB database every 10 minutes for historical analysis and traceability.
RESULTS
The system enables continuous, real-time monitoring of storage conditions, eliminating reliance on manual recording. Its architecture allows immediate detection of temperature deviations that may compromise drug integrity. The platform demonstrates low latency (∼50 ms in local network conditions) and reliable performance, supporting both real-time visualization and historical data analysis. The open-source and cloud-independent design ensures full data ownership and scalability across multiple storage units.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that low-cost IoT solutions can effectively support cold chain monitoring for oncology drugs in resource-limited settings. By ensuring temperature stability and enabling early detection of anomalies, the system contributes to preserving the efficacy of high-value cancer therapies and improving patient safety. This approach highlights the potential of locally developed technologies to address critical challenges in global cancer control.