Health · Medical Research · 14 hrs ago
Wireless implant controls blood sugar in mice by converting glucose
Swiss researchers developed ECHO, a wireless implant that converts glucose into gluconate using electricity rather than medication.
The USB-sized device sits under the skin and is designed for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A glucose monitor can send readings to a phone, which switches the implant on when levels rise and off when they reach the target.
In diabetic mice with obesity, the device brought blood sugar under control within an hour and repeated use kept it controlled for six weeks.
The mice also lost weight and had lower levels of triglycerides, a type of blood fat linked to disease risk.
The treatment changes how excess glucose is handled: the body uses some of the gluconate for energy and removes the rest through the kidneys.
ECHO has not been tested in humans, so it is not yet known whether it is safe or effective for people.
The researchers reported that the implants remained active in mice for weeks, and the next step toward any human use is not stated.
A wireless implant called ECHO lowered blood glucose in mice with diabetes and obesity by converting glucose into gluconate.
The device uses electricity and a catalyst rather than insulin or other medication.
When activated, it brought the mice’s glucose levels under control within an hour, and repeated treatment kept them controlled for six weeks.
The mice also had reduced triglycerides and body weight.
The implant has not been tested in humans.
- Who
- Researchers at ETH Zurich developed the implant, led by bioengineer Martin Fussenegger.
- What
- ECHO uses electricity to convert excess glucose into gluconate, which the body can process and eliminate.
- When
- The study was published in Science; the articles were published on October 22 and 23, 2026.
- Where
- The research was conducted by a team at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and tested in mice.
- Why
- The researchers aim to control high blood sugar without medication and potentially address diabetes and obesity together.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
ECHO brought blood glucose levels under control in diabetic mice with obesity.
Repeated treatment kept the mice’s blood glucose under control.
A closed-loop setup using a continuous glucose monitor and smartphone operated without human involvement.
- Device
- ECHO, short for electrocatalytic closed-loop health optimization
- Catalyst materials
- Gold nanostructures and platinum particles on graphite
- Glucose product
- Gluconate, which is eliminated through the kidneys
- Closed-loop test
- Ran for two weeks without human involvement
- Human testing
- The device has not been tested in people
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What people are saying
We wanted to have a completely new principle
Durante décadas hemos tratado la diabetes diciéndole al cuerpo cómo regular la glucosa. Ahora demostramos que podemos controlarla directamente mediante dispositivos electrónicos en lugar de fármacos
The specificity is, I would say, a lucky strike.