The gut-brain axis is known to regulate physiological functions, including feeding and emotional behavior. Many pharmaceutical and surgical interventions are known to modulate the gut-brain axis. However, they are associated with poor bioavailability, side effects, or substantial risks to the patients. To overcome such problems, MIT engineers have developed the first-of-its-kind ingestible electroceutical capsule that electrically stimulates stomach mucosal tissue to release ghrelin.
The capsule design is inspired by the Australian thorny devil lizard’s scaly skin. The capsule surface consists of grooves with a hydrophilic coating that draws gastric fluid away from the stomach tissue, allowing it to deliver electric current directly to the tissue. The capsule was found to stimulate ghrelin levels to considerable amounts in the bloodstream after 20 minutes of stimulation in porcine…
