New diabetes implant uses electricity to lower blood sugar and promote weight loss

The development comes as type 2 diabetes continues to affect a growing number of people worldwide. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 is frequently associated with obesity, limited physical activity, and consuming more energy than the body needs over long periods.

Insulin injections can help reduce blood sugar by allowing muscle cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. However, insulin does not eliminate the underlying problem of excess energy. When the body does not use the glucose it absorbs, the surplus can eventually be converted into fat. This helps explain why some people with diabetes continue gaining weight even while receiving treatment.

Researchers led by Martin Fussenegger, a professor in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel, have developed an implant designed to address this problem differently. Their findings were published in the journal Science.

A New Diabetes Treatment Powered by Electricity

Fussenegger and his colleagues have spent years developing technologies capable of controlling blood sugar. Their previous designs used engineered genetic networks, but these systems depended on living cells and other biological materials.

That dependence introduced several complications. Biological components can create challenges involving immune compatibility, long-term stability, production, and regulatory approval.

The researchers have now taken a different approach by creating a catalyst made entirely from inorganic materials. It performs its function without requiring living cells, enzymes, or other biological components.

At the heart of the implant is a piece of graphite felt covered with tiny clusters of gold. These gold structures are coated with even smaller platinum particles, creating a specially engineered surface that enables the chemical reaction needed to process glucose.

The researchers designed this nanoscale surface themselves. According to Fussenegger, the materials also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility during experimental testing, suggesting they can interact with living tissue without causing significant adverse reactions.

The system includes an electronic controller enclosed in a 3D-printed housing. Instead of relying on a conventional wired power connection, the implant receives energy wirelessly at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. This frequency is internationally allocated for industrial, scientific, and medical applications.

How the Implant Removes Excess Blood Sugar

The technology works by transforming excess glucose into gluconate, a substance that can be eliminated from the body through urine.

Normally, glucose provides energy for cells. When more glucose is available than the body needs, some of that excess energy can ultimately be stored as fat. By converting part of the glucose into gluconate, the implant prevents that portion from being metabolized and stored in tissues, potentially helping reduce fat accumulation.

The entire process is designed to happen automatically, responding to changes in blood sugar as they occur.

A conventional glucose sensor, similar to those worn on the upper arm by many people with diabetes, continuously measures glucose concentrations in tissue. When levels rise too high, such as after a meal, the sensor communicates through Bluetooth with a smartphone or smartwatch.

The connected device then activates the implant, supplying the electrical energy needed for the catalyst to convert glucose into gluconate.

Once glucose levels return to the desired range, the implant automatically shuts down. This feedback system, known as closed-loop control, is intended to prevent blood sugar from dropping dangerously low.

Blood Sugar Control and Weight Loss in Diabetic Mice

To evaluate the technology, the researchers first conducted a laboratory experiment using a reservoir containing 5 liters of a nutrient solution with glucose. That volume is approximately equal to the amount of blood circulating in an adult human body.

The experiment demonstrated that the catalyst could convert glucose in a solution of this scale, an important step toward assessing its potential for medical applications.

The researchers then implanted the system in diabetic mice. The results showed that the device could precisely regulate the animals' blood sugar levels. The mice also lost weight, suggesting that converting excess glucose rather than allowing it to contribute to fat storage could offer an additional metabolic benefit.

Over six weeks of testing, the implant continued functioning reliably and was well tolerated by the animals.

"The system operates at a very low voltage, and our experiments showed no evidence of tissue damage from either electrical or thermal effects," says Fussenegger.

Although these findings are promising, the device has not yet been tested in humans. Additional research will be necessary to determine whether the technology can operate safely and effectively in people with diabetes.

Could Electronics Transform the Future of Diabetes Treatment?

Fussenegger believes the technology could represent a fundamental change in how diabetes is managed. Rather than using medications to influence how the body processes glucose, an electronic device could directly control the amount of glucose available.

"For decades, we have treated diabetes by telling the body how to manage glucose. We are now showing that we can take control of glucose directly, using electronics rather than drugs," he says. "And the catalyst only activates when glucose levels are too high."

The approach also creates opportunities to connect medical treatments with digital technologies, including the Internet of Things. This refers to networks of devices that exchange information and respond automatically to changing conditions.

The researchers envision electronically controlled treatments that could be manufactured at scale and integrated with existing digital health systems.

Their next objective is to turn the experimental implant into a medical device suitable for further development and eventual clinical testing.

One potential advantage is its relatively simple glucose conversion mechanism. Because the catalyst does not rely on cells or enzymes, the researchers believe some of the technical challenges associated with biological treatments could be easier to overcome.

Much of the supporting technology is also already available. Wireless power transmission systems and external electronic controllers are commercially established, meaning the team would not need to develop every component from scratch.

If future studies demonstrate similar benefits in humans, this approach could open the door to a new class of diabetes treatments in which smart electronic devices help regulate blood sugar directly, potentially reducing reliance on conventional medications.