A new implantable device may soon offer an alternative to daily insulin injections for people with diabetes, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have announced.
The device contains encapsulated cells that produce insulin, plus a small oxygen-producing factory that keeps the cells healthy. The device, which requires no cables or batteries, is no bigger than a stick of chewing gum or a US 25-cent coin.
It has already been tested on mice, and MIT researchers are preparing to test its effectiveness on humans.
“You can think of this device as a living medical device that is made of human cells that secrete insulin, along with an electronic life support system,” said study author Daniel Anderson, a professor in the department of chemical engineering at MIT, a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the Institute for Engineering and Medical Science (IMES) at MIT.
In addition, the scientists are optimistic that the device could be modified to address other diseases that require frequent protein deliveries, the report said. university website.
“We are very excited about these findings, which we believe could provide a completely new way to one day treat diabetes and possibly other diseases,” said Robert Langer, a professor at MIT’s David H. Koch Institute. and member of the Koch Institute.
2023-09-20 21:03:00
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