Chinese researchers have developed a smart ingestible capsule capable of detecting and controlling gut bacteria using a smartphone, according to a study published in Nature Microbiology.
The capsule, tested in pigs with colon inflammation, could represent a significant step forward in health monitoring and remotely controlling biological treatments. The team engineered a strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria to emit light in response to nitrate, a biomarker of inflammation, inside the gut. These engineered bacteria were introduced into the pigs’ digestive systems.
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Once the pigs ingested the capsule, it detected the bioluminescent signals from the bacteria and relayed the data via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. Researchers then used the app to activate an LED light inside the capsule. This light triggered a genetic circuit in the engineered E. coli, causing the bacteria to produce anti-inflammatory antibodies that helped reduce the symptoms of colitis.
The capsule itself contains a circuit board and is powered by batteries. It was designed to both detect signals from gut bacteria and deliver light signals in return, establishing a two-way communication system between engineered microbes and an external device.
“This approach points out possibilities for integrating synthetic biology and optoelectronics for digital health monitoring and controllable intervention,” the authors wrote.
The team concluded that while the current findings are limited to animal testing, further refinement and clinical trials could pave the way for human applications in the future.
