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A Self-Powered Optogenetic System for Implantable Blood Glucose Control
Zhuo Liu1,2, Yang Zhou3, Xuecheng Qu2
1Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
Research (Washington, D.C.)
|August 8, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a self-powered optogenetic system (SOS) for diabetes management. The implantable device uses body movement to regulate blood glucose, offering a sustainable cell therapy approach.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Endocrinology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Diabetes management requires lifelong treatment and glucose homeostasis regulation.
- Optogenetic cell therapy shows promise for diabetes but faces challenges in sustainable *in vivo* power supply.
- Existing optogenetic systems lack portable and long-term energy solutions for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a self-powered optogenetic system (SOS) for implantable blood glucose control.
- To address the challenge of long-term energy supplementation for *in vivo* optogenetic stimulation.
- To create a sustainable energy source for optogenetic therapies using biomechanical energy harvesting.
Main Methods:
- Designed a self-powered optogenetic system (SOS) comprising a far-red light (FRL) source, FRL-triggered cells, and a power management unit.
- Integrated a flexible implantable piezoelectric nanogenerator (i-PENG) to convert biomechanical energy into electricity.
- Evaluated the system's ability to power FRL-induced shGLP-1 production *in vitro* and *in vivo* in diabetic mice.
Main Results:
- The i-PENG successfully harvested energy from body movement to power the FRL source.
- The system significantly enhanced the production of short human glucagon-like peptide 1 (shGLP-1).
- Diabetic mice treated with the SOS demonstrated restored blood glucose homeostasis, improved glucose tolerance, and enhanced insulin sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The self-powered optogenetic system (SOS) effectively self-powers therapeutic output for glucose homeostasis control.
- This study presents a novel strategy for powering optogenetic cell therapies using biomechanical energy harvesting.
- The developed SOS offers a promising, sustainable approach for implantable blood glucose regulation in diabetes treatment.
