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2 clusters · 8 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated
ETH Zurich glucose-regulating implant development
Overview
Researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Basel have developed an experimental subcutaneous electronic device, named Echo, designed to regulate blood sugar levels without drugs, enzymes, or living cells. The device uses an electrocatalytic process to convert excess glucose into gluconate, a benign compound that the body can naturally excrete through urine.
The implant utilizes a 3D-printed housing with a graphite felt sponge decorated with gold nanoclusters and platinum particles. When triggered by an electrical impulse, the catalyst oxidizes glucose directly. The system is designed as a closed-loop mechanism where a continuous glucose monitor communicates via Bluetooth to a smartphone, which then wirelessly activates the implant using radio frequencies.
In animal trials involving overweight mice with diabetes, the system successfully normalized blood sugar levels within one hour. Beyond glucose regulation, the technology also promoted the use of stored fat in test subjects, suggesting a potential dual approach to treating comorbid diabetes and obesity.
Entities
ETH Zurich · University of Basel · Science · Martin Fussenegger
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The implant uses an electrically powered catalyst to convert excess glucose into gluconate. www.biotechniques.com · www.kurierverlag.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gluconate is a lower-energy metabolite that is excreted through the kidneys. www.biotechniques.com · www.kurierverlag.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] In mouse models, the implant normalized blood sugar levels within one hour. www.kurierverlag.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The system uses gold nanoclusters coated with platinum particles on porous graphite felt as a catalyst. www.kurierverlag.de · www.merkur.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The device is wirelessly powered at a frequency of 13.56 megahertz. www.kurierverlag.de · www.merkur.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The implant promoted the use of stored fat in diabetic mouse models. www.biotechniques.com
Timeline
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[HEALTH] 4 sourcesETH Zurich scientists develop wireless implant to lower blood sugar
ETH Zurich researchers have created a wireless implant that uses electricity to convert excess glucose into gluconate, potentially treating diabetes and obesity without drugs.
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[HEALTH] 4 sourcesETH Zurich researchers develop glucose-regulating electronic implant
ETH Zurich scientists have created Echo, an electronic implant that uses an inorganic catalyst to convert excess blood glucose into gluconate, offering a drug-free method for managing diabetes.
Sources
ad-hoc-news.de · biotechniques.com · generation-nt.com · kurierverlag.de · medinside.ch · merkur-online.de · sciencedaily.com · scientificinquirer.com