Pioneering Implantable Device for Diabetes Management
A groundbreaking device developed by a multinational research team, led by an Israeli engineer and including top U.S. universities, may one day eliminate the daily need for insulin injections for people with diabetes.
Published on January 28 in Science Translational Medicine, the study reveals an innovative, cell-based implant acting as an autonomous “artificial pancreas.” Once implanted, this device is designed to continuously monitor blood glucose levels, produce insulin internally, and release it according to the body’s needs—all without requiring external pumps, injections, or any patient involvement.
This significant advancement hinges on a unique protective technology called a “crystalline shield.” This innovation is meant to prevent the body’s immune system from rejecting the implant, a common barrier faced by cell-based therapies for years. With this shield, the implant can operate reliably for years.
Tests conducted on mice indicated effective long-term glucose regulation. Additionally, studies with non-human primates confirmed that the cells within the implant remain viable and functional—a promising sign, according to the researchers, for future clinical trials in humans.
The study was led by Assistant Professor Shady Farah from the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, in partnership with scientists from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Massachusetts. The collaboration dates back to Farah’s postdoctoral research, beginning in 2018, at MIT and Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, under the mentorship of pioneers in tissue engineering such as Robert Langer, co-founder of Moderna.
Farah’s co-first authors on the paper include Matthew Bochenek from MIT and Joshua Doloff from Johns Hopkins. Other contributors comprised Technion researchers Dr. Merna Shaheen-Mualim and former master’s students Neta Kutner and Edward Odeh, who played a role in adapting the work for publication.
While the primary focus is diabetes, the team believes the platform could eventually be modified to deliver other biologic therapies continuously. This adaptability could present a new strategy for chronic conditions like hemophilia and various metabolic or genetic diseases.
If the technology can be successfully transitioned to human applications, experts suggest it might transform the management of chronic illnesses, potentially replacing lifelong medication regimens with self-regulating, living therapeutics functioning continuously within the body.
