Scientists test implant in mice that lowers blood sugar using electricity
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an experimental implant for treating type 2 diabetes. In experiments on mice, the device helped reduce blood sugar levels and the animals' weight.
The implant uses electricity to trigger a chemical reaction: a special catalyst converts excess glucose into gluconate, which is then excreted from the body in urine. The device receives energy wirelessly.
An external sensor monitors blood sugar levels and transmits data to a smartphone or smartwatch. When the indicator rises, the system automatically activates the catalyst, and after normalization, it deactivates it.
In the laboratory, the technology was tested on five liters of glucose solution, then trialed on mice with diabetes. The device operated for six weeks and was well tolerated by the animals. The implant has not yet been tested on humans.
