Implantable 'living pharmacy' produces multiple drugs inside the body
5 hours ago
- #Bioelectronics
- #Drug Delivery
- #Implantable Devices
- A multi-institutional team, including Northwestern University, developed HOBIT, a hybrid oxygenation bioelectronics system for implanted therapy, aimed at creating 'living pharmacies' inside the body.
- HOBIT integrates engineered cells with oxygen-producing bioelectronics to sustain cell viability, enabling simultaneous production of three biologics: an anti-HIV antibody, a GLP-1-like peptide for diabetes, and leptin for appetite regulation.
- Implanted in small animals, the device maintained stable drug levels for 30 days, with oxygenated devices showing 65% cell viability versus 20% in controls, and plans for larger animal tests and disease-specific applications are underway.
- The system addresses oxygen limitations in cell implants by generating oxygen locally via electrochemical splitting of water, supporting higher cell densities and long-term therapy without frequent dosing.
- This technology could revolutionize chronic disease treatment by providing continuous, programmable drug production, reducing patient burden and enabling complex multi-therapy delivery.