Implantable Molecular Device Produces Insulin

Swiss scientists have created an implantable molecular device with a sensor that measures blood pH levels and a gene feedback mechanism that produces the necessary amount of insulin if acidosis becomes a risk for type 1 diabetes patients. The molecular device was designed using various genes and proteins, and comprises a pH sensing element and a gene feedback mechanism which produces insulin. The pH sensor monitors the blood’s acidity with a high degree of precision and reacts to minor deviations from the ideal pH value. If the pH value dips below 7.35, a critically low value for people with type 1 diabetes, the pH sensor triggers insulin production. The insulin causes the cells to metabolize glucose instead of fat reserves and returns the blood pH to a healthy level. The system design and test results have been published in Molecular Cell.