That sounds like science fiction…
Swedish researchers from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm have developed an eye implant with its help diabetes could be treated. But how exactly is this supposed to work?
How does the anti-diabetes device work?
The implant is a type of wedge that is manufactured using a 3D printer. It is around 240 micrometers (the equivalent of 0.24 millimeters) in size and is attached between the iris and the cornea without any additional device, so to speak “clamped”.
The highlight: there are insulin-producing cells in this wedge. At In diabetes patients, the natural insulin-producing cells are attacked and rejected. Thanks to new technology, these cells can now be implanted into the eye and act as so-called “mini organs” in the body, helping to produce enough insulin and pass it on into the bloodstream.
That is why the implant is not rejected
But why is the technology used in the eye and not elsewhere in the body? The answer: The eye does not contain any immune cells. This means that the insulin-producing cells cannot be rejected here. Since the eye is also transparent, a microscopic and visual examination of the implant is relatively easy at any time.
Another advantage: no invasive intervention is necessary for the implant, such as when pricking for blood sugar measurement or an insulin pump.
In tests on mice, the device held its position for several months and “worked” optimally in interaction with the bloodstream and other organs. The first studies on human diabetes patients are already being carried out. It will now be examined whether the technology can also be used for other diseases.
App users can access the survey here: Would you have an eye implant inserted?