Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
4d ago

MIT Advances Implantable Hypoglycemia Rescue Device Toward Year-Long Use

Stable drug release through fibrotic tissue during four-week mouse studies drives efforts to extend the implant’s lifespan to a year ahead of human trials

A new implantable device carries a reservoir of glucagon that can be stored under the skin and could save diabetes patients from dangerously low blood sugar.

Overview

  • The device is a coin-sized, under-skin reservoir sealed by a nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy to store powdered glucagon or epinephrine.
  • Wireless signals from continuous glucose monitors or manual triggers heat the alloy to 40 °C, opening the reservoir for on-demand drug release.
  • In diabetic mice, activation of the implant normalized blood sugar levels within ten minutes and boosted epinephrine response in emergency tests.
  • Four-week trials showed reliable performance even after fibrotic tissue formed around the implant.
  • Researchers are now optimizing durability toward at least one year and planning further animal studies before initiating human clinical trials within three years.