The wireless electronic implant destroys the infection and decomposes

Tufts University researchers, together with colleagues from the University of Illinois, have developed a biodegradable electronic implant on remote control that eliminates bacterial infection by heating the affected tissue.

The miniature heating device consists of a curved magnesium resistor and a magnesium inductor. This heating element is mounted on a silk protein substrate and encapsulated in a shell of the same protein that protects electronics and regulates the speed of its decomposition.

Such devices were implanted into Staphylococcus aureus infected mouse tissues and activated using a wireless transmitter during two 10-minute sessions of thermal therapy. Mouse tissues analyzed 24 hours after therapy showed no signs of infection. There were also no abnormalities in the surrounding tissues.

The devices completely decomposed in the body within 15 days, while the concentration of magnesium in the implantation area and surrounding tissues was comparable to normal values.

The researchers also conducted in vitro experiments in which similar radio-controlled devices released the antibiotic ampicillin, which destroys Streptococcus aureus and E. coli.

According to the head of the study, Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto, such wireless implants can be used to treat postoperative infections or to develop a platform that regulates the release of the drug in the body via Wi-Fi.

Article by Hu Tao et al. Silk-based resorbable electronic devices for remotely controlled therapy and in vivo infection abatement is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Tufts University:
Wireless Electronic Implants Stop Staph, Then Harmlessly Dissolve.

28.11.2014