The idea of someone poking around my eye and implanting something into it kind of freaks me out but even I have to admit that this new medical breakthrough sounds pretty amazing. As it takes advantage of some of the eye’s natural properties to treat diabetes and other diseases.
Brighter Side News explains:
“A new breakthrough in medical technology has emerged from Sweden, where researchers have developed a tiny device designed for implantation into the eye…
Crafted by a team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet, this microscale device, detailed in the journal Advanced Materials, aims to encapsulate insulin-producing pancreatic cells alongside electronic sensors.
The collaboration between these two prestigious institutions has led to the creation of a device capable of precisely positioning micro-organs, particularly pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans, within the eye without the need for sutures. This breakthrough offers promising prospects for cell-based therapies, including the treatment of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, utilizing the eye as a natural platform.
Anna Herland, a senior lecturer involved in the project, explains the choice of the eye as an ideal location for this technology. She notes that the eye lacks immune cells that might react negatively during the initial stages of implantation. Additionally, its transparent nature enables researchers to visually and microscopically monitor the implant’s progress over time.”
All of which begs the question: what other technologies is the eye the ideal location for?!
Can an eye implant treat diabetes?
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