Smartphone 'orders' body to treat diabetes
Scientists have used a smartphone to control the activity of the living cells inside an animal. The fusion of biology and technology was used to control blood sugar levels in mice with diabetes. The idea, described in Science Translational Medicine, could be applied to a range of diseases and treatments. The researchers say the approach could pave the way for a "new era" in medicine.
The first step was to turn normal cells into living factories. They were genetically engineered to manufacture drugs that control blood sugar levels such as insulin - but only in response to light.
The technology is called optogenetics and these cells would kick into gear when exposed to specific wavelengths of red light. Then comes the tech - a set of wirelessly powered LEDs and a smartphone app to control them.
Researchers at East China Nor mal Unive r s i t y in Shanghai implanted the system into mice and were able to control diabetes with the tap of a touchscreen. The findings "could pave the way for a new era of personalised, digitalised and globalised precision medicine". The scientists needed to take tiny drops of blood to know how high the blood sugar levels were so they could calculate how much drug to release inside the animal. Their goal is a fully automated system that both detects sugar levels and then releases the right amount of therapeutic chemicals. This idea is at an early stage, but it is not limited to diabetes. Cells could be engineered to manufacture a wide range of drugs.
Mark Gomelsky, a molecular biologist from the University of Wyoming, said: "How soon should we expect to see people on the street wearing LED wristbands that produce drugs under the control of a smartphone? Not just yet, but the work provides us with an exciting glimpse into the future of smart cell-based therapeutics."
(Courtesy BBC)