Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an experimental implant that uses an electrically powered catalyst to convert excess glucose into gluconate. Tested in diabetic mice, the system regulated blood sugar levels and reduced body weight, offering a potential new approach to diabetes treatment.
Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common worldwide and is often associated with obesity, sedentary lifestyles and long-term excess energy intake. Although insulin treatment can lower blood glucose levels, it does not directly address the body’s energy surplus. Glucose taken up by muscle cells may be converted into fat if the energy is not used, contributing to weight gain in some patients.
A research team led by Martin Fussenegger, professor in ETH Zurich’s Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, has developed an alternative approach that uses electronics and an inorganic catalyst to remove excess glucose from circulation. Previous approaches relied on specially developed genetic networks, which involve biological components and can present challenges related to immune tolerance, stability, manufacturing and regulatory approval.
The new system avoids the need for cells, enzymes or other biological components in its glucose-conversion mechanism. Instead, it uses a catalyst made from inorganic materials, including graphite felt studded with gold nanoclusters decorated with smaller platinum particles. The researchers engineered the catalyst’s nanostructured surface, and the materials demonstrated good biocompatibility in the experimental study.
The implant also contains an electronic control unit housed in a 3D-printed casing. It receives power wirelessly at 13.56 MHz, a frequency designated internationally for industrial, scientific and medical applications.
How the Catalyst Converts Glucose Into Gluconate
The system works by converting excess glucose into gluconate, which the body subsequently excretes through urine. By diverting some glucose away from normal metabolic pathways, the approach could also help limit the accumulation of body fat.
The implant operates through a wireless, closed-loop control system that responds to changes in glucose levels.
A standard glucose sensor, similar to those commonly worn on the upper arm by people with diabetes, continuously monitors glucose levels in tissue. When glucose rises too high after a meal, the sensor transmits a signal through Bluetooth to 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 system automatically switches off.
This automatic control is designed to prevent excessive glucose reduction and protect against dangerously low blood sugar levels.
Experiments Demonstrate Glucose Regulation in Diabetic Mice
The research team first tested the catalyst in a laboratory reservoir containing five litres of a glucose-based nutrient solution, approximately equivalent to the volume of blood in the human body. The experiment demonstrated that the catalyst could convert glucose within that volume of solution.
Researchers subsequently tested the implant in diabetic mice and found that it could regulate their blood sugar levels. The animals also lost weight, while the implant was well tolerated and operated reliably throughout a six-week testing period.
“The system operates at a very low voltage, and our experiments showed no evidence of tissue damage from either electrical or thermal effects,” said Fussenegger.
Despite these results, the technology remains experimental. The researchers have not yet tested the device in humans, so its safety and effectiveness in people with diabetes remain unestablished.
Moving Towards Electronically Controlled Diabetes Treatment
Fussenegger describes the technology as a potential shift from conventional drug-based treatments towards electronically controlled medical devices that could integrate with digital systems, including the Internet of Things.
“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 team plans to develop the experimental system into a medical device. Since the glucose-conversion mechanism operates without cells or enzymes, the researchers believe its technical development could be more straightforward than approaches that rely on biological components.
Another potential advantage is that many components required for the system, including external control units and wireless power transmission equipment, have already been developed and are commercially available.
Further development and human testing will be necessary before the technology can be considered for clinical use. If future studies establish its safety and effectiveness, the implant could offer a new way to manage excess glucose through a combination of chemical catalysis, electronic monitoring and automated control.
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