Autonomous push button-controlled rapid insulin release from a piezoelectrically activated subcutaneous cell implant

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Therapy
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Current remote control methods for cell-based therapies (optogenetic, magnetogenetic, electrogenetic) require complex electronics and external power.
• There is a need for self-sufficient, easily controlled systems for in situ biopharmaceutical production and real-time dosing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a self-sufficient, subcutaneous implant controlled by simple physical cues (finger pressure).
• To demonstrate real-time, on-demand release of biopharmaceuticals from engineered cells using this device.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential in a preclinical model.

Main Methods:

• Designed a subcutaneous implant with an embedded piezoelectric membrane activated by finger pressure.
• Engineered electro-sensitive human cells to release biopharmaceuticals upon electrical stimulation.
• Utilized the piezoelectric membrane to generate low-voltage energy for cell stimulation and drug release.
• Tested the device in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes to restore normoglycemia.

Main Results:

• Finger pressure on the implant generated sufficient energy to trigger biopharmaceutical release.
• Release kinetics were tunable by varying the frequency and duration of finger-pressing.
• Successful restoration of normoglycemia in diabetic mice using the finger-pressure activated implant.
• Demonstrated a self-sufficient, traceless control mechanism for cell-based therapies.

Conclusions:

• A novel, self-sufficient subcutaneous implant controlled by finger pressure offers a convenient alternative for managing cell-based therapies.
• This technology eliminates the need for complex electronics and external power sources.
• The device shows promise for improving patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes in various cell-based treatments.