The technology can be applied not only in diabetes but also for the treatment of other chronic diseases that require constant administration of biological drugs.
Scientists from the Technion in Haifa, in collaboration with American colleagues, have created a biological implant capable of autonomously controlling blood sugar levels and producing insulin without the need for regular injections. The results of the study were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
According to Israel Inside, the development is a biosensor system based on living cells that functions as an autonomous artificial pancreas. After implantation, the device continuously monitors glucose levels, synthesizes insulin, and releases it in the necessary volume, effectively creating a "living" drug delivery system within the body.
One of the key achievements was solving the problem of immune rejection. Researchers developed a protective shell that isolates the cells inside the implant and prevents their recognition by the immune system. This allows the device to operate stably for a long time.
Tests on mice and primates showed effective regulation of sugar levels, paving the way for clinical trials in humans.
According to project co-author, Associate Professor Shadi Farah, the technology can be applied not only in diabetes but also for the treatment of other chronic diseases that require constant administration of biological drugs, including hemophilia and a number of genetic and metabolic disorders.
If the technology proves effective in clinical trials, it could represent a fundamental change in the approach to treating chronic diseases: from regular injections to autonomous therapy working within the body. For diabetes, this means a potential shift from daily monitoring to a long-term solution, and for medicine as a whole - a new stage in the development of so-called "living drugs."
