‘Cyborg’ Transplants Could Replace Pancreatic Tissue Damaged by Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes destroys insulin-producing islet cells, forcing patients to rely on lifelong insulin therapy or scarce organ transplants. Although lab-grown pancreatic tissue offers a promising alternative, these cells often fail to fully mature and function like natural islets. Researchers have now developed an electronic implant system that helps lab-grown pancreatic cells develop properly, potentially advancing cell-based therapies for diabetes.

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, USA) and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University (Cambridge, USA) embedded an ultrathin, stretchable conductive mesh—thinner than a human hair—within three-dimensional pancreatic organoids. The mesh allowed continuous recording of electrical activity from developing islet cells and delivered controlled electrical stimulation patterned after natural 24-hour circadian rhythms.

The implanted mesh introduced rhythmic electrical activity that encouraged immature cells to mature and respond appropriately to glucose. After four days of stimulation, the cells maintained their cycling behavior independently. The synchronized electrical signals appeared to help individual islet cells coordinate as a functional network, improving hormone secretion timing. The approach, presented in Science, enabled researchers to observe electrical transitions over two months and revealed the importance of circadian rhythms in islet development.

The technology may support two potential therapeutic strategies: stimulating lab-grown islet cells before transplantation or leaving the mesh in place to monitor and maintain long-term function. Such systems could increase tissue supply and reduce transplant rejection risks. Researchers also envision integrating artificial intelligence to automatically monitor and regulate cell activity, potentially creating a self-regulating implant system for diabetes management.

“What we’re doing is like deep stimulation for the pancreas. Just like pacemakers help the heart keep rhythm, controlled electrical pulses can help pancreatic cells develop and function the way they’re supposed to,” said Juan Alvarez, PhD, assistant professor at Penn Medicine. “In the future, we could have a system that runs without human intervention.”

Related Links:
Penn Medicine
Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences