The gastrointestinal (GI) tract offers the opportunity to detect physiological and pathophysiological signals from the human body. Ingestible electronics can gain close proximity to major organs through the GI tract and therefore can serve as clinical tools for diagnostics and therapy. In this Review, we summarize the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the GI tract, which present both challenges and opportunities for the development of ingestible devices. We describe recent breakthroughs in materials science, electrical engineering and data science that have permitted the exploration of technologies for sensing and therapy via the GI tract. Novel sensing opportunities include electrochemical, electromagnetic, optical and acoustic protocols, which have the capacity to sense luminal or extra-luminal analytes in the GI tract. We review therapeutic interventions, such as anatomical targeting for drug delivery, delivery of macromolecules and electrical signals. Finally, we investigate major challenges associated with ingestible electronics, including safety, communication, powering, steering and tissue interactions. Ingestible electronics are an exciting area of scientific innovation and they may pave the way for a new era in medicine, enabling patients to receive remote, electronically assisted health care.
: Ingestible biomedical devices that diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases has been a dream of engineers and clinicians for decades. The increasing apparent importance of gut health on overall well-being and the prevalence of many gastrointestinal diseases have renewed focus on this emerging class of medical devices. Several prominent examples of commercially successful ingestible medical devices exist. However, many technical challenges remain before ingestible medical devices can achieve their ...
Last. Yong Lin Kong(UofU: University of Utah)H-Index: 12
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: Recent advances in 3D printing have enabled the creation of novel 3D constructs and devices with an unprecedented level of complexity, properties, and functionalities. In contrast to manufacturing techniques developed for mass production, 3D printing encompasses a broad class of fabrication technologies that can enable 1) the creation of highly customized and optimized 3D physical architectures from digital designs; 2) the synergistic integration of properties and functionalities of distinct c...
Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) has demonstrated therapeutic potential in multiple inflammatory conditions including intensive care applications such as organ transplantation or sepsis. Approaches to translate these findings into future therapies, however, have been challenged by multiple hurdles including handling and toxicity issues associated with systemic CO delivery. Here, we describe a membrane-controlled Extracorporeal Carbon Monoxide Release System (ECCORS) for easy implementation into Ext...
#1Mark Mimee(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 9
#2Phillip Nadeau(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 8
Last. Timothy K. Lu(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 51
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Biomolecular monitoring in the gastrointestinal tract could offer rapid, precise disease detection and management but is impeded by access to the remote and complex environment. Here, we present an ingestible micro-bio-electronic device (IMBED) for in situ biomolecular detection based on environmentally resilient biosensor bacteria and miniaturized luminescence readout electronics that wirelessly communicate with an external device. As a proof of concept, we engineer heme-sensitive probiotic bio...
Our increasing dependence on lithium-ion batteries for energy storage calls for continual improvements in the performance of their positive electrodes, which have so far relied solely on cationic redox of transition-metal ions for driving the electrochemical reactions. Great hopes have recently been placed on the emergence of anionic redox—a transformational approach for designing positive electrodes as it leads to a near-doubling of capacity. But questions have been raised about the fundamental...
A room-temperature all-solid-state rechargeable battery cell containing a tandem electrolyte consisting of a Li+-glass electrolyte in contact with a lithium anode and a plasticizer in contact with a conventional, low cost oxide host cathode was charged to 5 V versus lithium with a charge/discharge cycle life of over 23,000 cycles at a rate of 153 mA·g–1 of active material. A larger positive electrode cell with 329 cycles had a capacity of 585 mAh·g–1 at a cutoff of 2.5 V and a current of 23 mA·g...
Soft small robots offer the opportunity to non-invasively access human tissue to perform medical operations and deliver drugs; however, challenges in materials design, biocompatibility and function control remain to be overcome for soft robots to reach the clinic.
Last. John A. Rogers(NU: Northwestern University)H-Index: 182
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ConspectusRecent advances in materials chemistry establish the foundations for unusual classes of electronic systems, characterized by their ability to fully or partially dissolve, disintegrate, or otherwise physically or chemically decompose in a controlled fashion after some defined period of stable operation. Such types of “transient” technologies may enable consumer gadgets that minimize waste streams associated with disposal, implantable sensors that disappear harmlessly in the body, and ha...
#1Giovanni Traverso(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 30
#2Ameya R. Kirtane(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 14
Last. Robert Langer(MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology)H-Index: 296
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: The void between drug discovery and successful translation to humans is vast. In order to develop effective solutions, convergence of a multidisciplinary team with a range of expertise is required. In this Essay, examples of successful sustained delivery systems for antimalarials and antiretrovirals, as well as to the gastrointestinal tract are discussed.
For the next generation of wearable health monitors, it is essential to develop stretchable and conformable sensors with robust electrical performance. These sensors should, in particular, provide a stable electrical output without being affected by external variables such as induced strain. Here, we report circuit design strategies that can improve the accuracy and robustness of a temperature sensor based on stretchable carbon nanotube transistors. Using static and dynamic differential readout ...
Abstract null null The delivery of macromolecules via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract remains a significant challenge. A variety of technologies using physical modes of drug delivery have been developed and investigated to overcome the epithelial cell layer of the GI tract for local and systemic delivery. These technologies include direct injection, jetting, ultrasound, and iontophoresis, which have been largely adapted from transdermal drug delivery. Direct injection of agents using needles thr...
Last. Qingjun Liu(ZJU: Zhejiang University)H-Index: 31
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Abstract null null The pH of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has strong correlation with many GI diseases. In this study, a wireless and ingestible capsule system for monitoring GI pH was reported. Iridium oxide was electrodeposited on the screen-printed electrode (SPE) to form the pH sensor, which had the high sensitivity and wide detection range for H+. The rigid-flexible composited printed circuit board (RFPCB) technique was used to design the capsule detection circuit. Both of them were enca...
#2Mario Caironi(IIT: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)H-Index: 38
Sustainable harnessing of natural resources is key moving toward a new-generation electronics, which features a unique combination of electronic functionality, low cost, and absence of environmental and health hazards. Within this framework, edible electronics, of which transistors and circuits are a fundamental component, is an emerging field, exploiting edible materials that can be safely ingested, and subsequently digested after performing their function. Dielectrics are a critical functional...
Abstract null null Ingestible smart pills have the potential to be a powerful clinical tool in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disease. Though examples of this technology, such as capsule endoscopy, have been successfully translated from the lab into clinically used products, there are still numerous challenges that need to be overcome. This review gives an overview of the research being done in the area of ingestible smart pills and reports on the technical challenges in this fi...
Last. Gang Liu(Ha Tai: Xiamen University)H-Index: 84
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Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a novel noninvasive therapeutic modality that combines low-intensity ultrasound and sonosensitizers. Versus photo-mediated therapy, SDT has the advantages of deeper tissue penetration, high accuracy, and less side effects. Sonosensitizers are critical for therapeutic efficacy during SDT and organic sonosensitizers are important because of their clear structure, easy monitoring, evaluation of drug metabolism, and clinical transformation. Notably, nanotechnology can be...
Through advances in molecular design, understanding of processing parameters, and development of non-traditional device fabrication techniques, the field of wearable and implantable skin-inspired devices is rapidly growing interest in the consumer market. Like previous technological advances, economic growth and efficiency is anticipated, as these devices will enable an augmented level of interaction between humans and the environment. However, the parallel growing electronic waste that is yet t...
