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MIT’s Quarter-Sized Implant Delivers Emergency Hormones and Prepares for Clinical Trials

Targeting a functional lifespan of at least one year before replacement, researchers project human trials within three years.

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 implant houses powdered glucagon or epinephrine in a 3D-printed polymer reservoir sealed by a nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy that opens at 40 °C when wirelessly activated.
  • In diabetic mouse models, wireless-triggered glucagon release normalized blood glucose within ten minutes and separate tests confirmed rapid epinephrine delivery.
  • The device remained fully operational after four weeks under the skin despite fibrotic encapsulation around the implant.
  • Researchers plan to extend the implant’s operational lifespan to at least one year before replacement and initiate human trials within three years.
  • Its wireless design offers potential for automatic hormone release through integration with continuous glucose monitors.