Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MIT, and NYU have created an innovative ingestible capsule named FLASH (Fluid-wicking Active Stimulation and Hormone modulation) that stimulates the hunger hormone ghrelin in pigs. This capsule, inspired by the fluid-wicking skin of the Australian thorny devil lizard, emits electronic signals as it travels through the digestive system and is excreted without side effects. The study, published in Science Robotics, highlights the potential of ingestible electroceuticals for treating various gastrointestinal, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders.
The idea originated from observations of gastric pacemakers improving conditions in patients with gastroparesis, leading researchers to explore the neurohormonal effects of electrical stimulation on ghrelin production via the vagus nerve. FLASH was designed to maintain contact with stomach tissue by mimicking the lizard’s ability to wick fluid, ensuring effective electrical stimulation.
The findings show significant increases in ghrelin levels upon stimulation, paving the way for future human applications, particularly in addressing eating disorders and metabolic diseases. This development represents a significant step toward non-invasive treatments utilizing bioelectronic systems alongside physiological functions, which could ultimately transform therapeutic approaches.
