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Ingestible Electronics for Diagnostics and Therapy.
Christoph Steiger1,2, Alex Abramson1, Phillip Nadeau3,4
1Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA.
Nature Reviews. Materials
|September 2, 2025
Summary
Ingestible electronics leverage the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for advanced diagnostics and therapy. These devices offer remote, electronically-assisted healthcare solutions by sensing and delivering treatments within the body.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Gastroenterology
- Materials Science
Background:
- The gastrointestinal (GI) tract provides unique access to physiological and pathophysiological signals.
- Ingestible electronics can closely monitor major organs for clinical applications.
- Understanding GI tract characteristics is crucial for developing effective ingestible devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physiologic and anatomic features of the GI tract relevant to ingestible devices.
- To summarize recent advancements in sensing and therapeutic technologies for ingestible electronics.
- To identify key challenges and future directions in the field of ingestible electronics.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on ingestible electronics and GI tract physiology.
- Analysis of breakthroughs in material science, electrical engineering, and data science.
- Exploration of various sensing modalities (electrochemical, electromagnetic, optical, acoustic) and therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- Novel sensing opportunities for luminal and extra-luminal analytes within the GI tract.
- Emerging therapeutic applications including targeted drug delivery and electrical signal therapy.
- Identification of significant challenges: safety, communication, power, steering, and tissue interaction.
Conclusions:
- Ingestible electronics represent a significant innovation in medicine.
- These devices hold the potential to enable remote, electronically-assisted healthcare.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges and realize the full potential of ingestible electronics.
