A Novel Ingestible Biosensor for Intestinal Metabolite Monitoring Blog post by Nina Culum, MSc Functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are highly complex, involving a bidirectional dysregulation of the gut-brain interaction, and cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, from abdominal pain and bloating to nausea and vomiting [1]. In a recently published large-scale study, more than 40% of the global population was found to suffer from these disorders, which not only negatively affects quality of life, but also places a significant economic burden on healthcare systems [2]. The human gut microbiome and the metabolites therein have gained considerable attention as a result, as they are thought to play a role in the etiology of a diverse range of diseases such as IBS, type 2 diabetes, and even colorectal cancer [3]. Although our knowledge of these disorders has advanced, their diagnosis still often requires invasive procedures or non-real-time analysis [4].

Ingestible biosensors: a breakthrough for gastrointestinal disorder diagnosis

Recent advances in electronics, optics, materials science, and chemistry have allowed for the development of noninvasive ingestible biosensors or smart pills [5]. These devices pass through the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore have direct access to the gut microenvironment, enabling measurement of a wide range of biomarkers and therapeutic targets [4, 5]. Unfortunately, biosensing via ingestible devices is still in its infancy, with commercial availability limited by understanding of gastrointestinal function and regulatory hurdles. Since no ingestible, real-time intestinal metabolite monitors currently exist, De la Paz et al. have developed a self-powered, wireless, and energy-efficient biosensing capsule and demonstrated its capabilities in a porcine model [4]. The results of this pilot study were published this month in Nature Communications, which we review in this blog post. https://insidescientific.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Continuous-Glucose-Monitoring-and-Glycemic-Variability-in-Pregnancy_F1.jpg Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Glycemic Variability in Pregnancy Join Caroline Wuyts, MSc, for a deep dive into her research on pregnancy and monitoring glucose availability throughout the reproductive timeline of a mouse model. To gain insight into pregnancy-induced metabolic adaptations, glucose was continuously monitored in mice via telemetry. WATCH NOW

Novel biosensor for gastrointestinal tract metabolites how does it work?

To develop an entirely energy-autonomous ingestible device, the authors incorporated a glucose biofuel cell (BFC) that generates power while measuring changes in glucose concentration. A magnetic human body communication (mHBC) scheme is also employed, which efficiently reduces electromagnetic energy loss during operation. These components are housed in a capsule with a pH-responsive coating, allowing the device to safely pass through the acidic stomach environment and into the neutral intestinal medium, as well as a silicone/polyurethane coating for electronic insulation (Figure 1). The self-powering mechanism negates the need for a battery and allows for device miniaturization, with diameter and length measuring 0.9 cm and 2.6 cm, respectively. [fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" align_self="auto" content_layout="column" align_content="flex-start" valign_content="flex-start" content_wrap="wrap" spacing="" center_content="no" column_tag="div" link="" target="_self" link_description="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" class="" id="" background_image_id="" type_medium="" type_small="" order_medium="0" order_small="0" spacing_left_medium="" spacing_right_medium="" spacing_left_small="" spacing_right_small