Ingestible hydrogel device

Xinyue Liu, Christoph Steiger, Shaoting Lin, German Alberto Parada, Ji Liu, Hon Fai Chan, Hyunwoo Yuk, Nhi V. Phan, Joy Collins, Siddartha Tamang, Giovanni Traverso and Xuanhe Zhao ()
Additional contact information
Xinyue Liu: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christoph Steiger: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Shaoting Lin: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
German Alberto Parada: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ji Liu: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hon Fai Chan: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hyunwoo Yuk: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nhi V. Phan: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joy Collins: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Siddartha Tamang: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Giovanni Traverso: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Xuanhe Zhao: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Devices that interact with living organisms are typically made of metals, silicon, ceramics, and plastics. Implantation of such devices for long-term monitoring or treatment generally requires invasive procedures. Hydrogels offer new opportunities for human-machine interactions due to their superior mechanical compliance and biocompatibility. Additionally, oral administration, coupled with gastric residency, serves as a non-invasive alternative to implantation. Achieving gastric residency with hydrogels requires the hydrogels to swell very rapidly and to withstand gastric mechanical forces over time. However, high swelling ratio, high swelling speed, and long-term robustness do not coexist in existing hydrogels. Here, we introduce a hydrogel device that can be ingested as a standard-sized pill, swell rapidly into a large soft sphere, and maintain robustness under repeated mechanical loads in the stomach for up to one month. Large animal tests support the exceptional performance of the ingestible hydrogel device for long-term gastric retention and physiological monitoring.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08355-2

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