3D Pill May Be Good Gut Check
By Christina Phillis
The gut contains a vast array of microbes and bacteria that can offer a wealth of information about the overall health of a person. That’s why a team of engineers at Tufts University developed a new method for exploring the digestive tract. Their small 3D pill samples bacteria as it travels through the gut, giving researchers better information about areas that are difficult to access, like the upper part of the distal colon where a diverse population of microbiomes dwell.
“We are learning quite a lot about the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. However, we know very little about its biogeography. The pill will improve our understanding of the role of spatial distribution in the microbiome profile to advance novel treatments and therapies for a number of diseases and conditions,” said Sameer Sonkusale, study co-author and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University’s School of Engineering.
A Gut Job
Gut bacteria function to help the body digest food and protect against diseases. But they can also be somewhat disruptive. If the microbiome becomes unbalanced, (also known as dysbiosis), constipation, bloating, indigestion, and other unpleasant symptoms can arise. Dysbiosis can also make the body more susceptible to certain infections, or enhance diseases like cancer.
New research is proving that the gut may affect more than just digestion. Recent studies have shown that our genetic makeup determines the mix of bacteria in our gut, and may affect one’s weight. Researchers have even found a potential link between autism and gut bacteria. A more detailed view of these organisms is needed to better understand their relationship with these and other conditions.
"Compared to other non-invasive diagnostic devices, this is like having an EKG for gut health."
Following Your Gut
To create a device for traversing and sampling the digestive tract, researchers used a 3D printer. The resulting pill features a semi-permeable membrane separated into two chambers — one containing multiple helical channels and one filled with calcium. The chamber with helical channels collects bacteria while the calcium chamber helps maintain osmotic flow across the membrane.
A pH-sensitive covering dissolves once the pill reaches the stomach, preventing it from absorbing anything until it enters the small intestine. An internal magnet, which can be guided externally, is used to control the pill for sampling specific areas. Researchers also included fluorescent dye in the salt chamber so they could easily track the pill’s path.
Initial results showed that the bacterial populations collected in the pill closely resembled the populations to which the pill was exposed. Currently, the pill has only been used in pigs and primates. Clinical trials are needed to determine if the pill can be used to diagnose and treat humans.
“The design of this device makes it incredibly easy to use, posing little risk to the subject being measured, yet providing so much information,” said Giovanni Widmer, a professor in the department of infectious diseases and global health at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. “Compared to other non-invasive diagnostic devices, this is like having an EKG for gut health.”
This is not the first prototype of its kind being developed to make medical diagnosis and treatment less invasive. A remote-control drug delivery system for chemotherapy treatment is being tested. The nanoparticle package delivers chemotherapy only to cancer cells, leaving healthy cells to thrive.
In the future, researchers hope the bacterial populations discovered with the 3D pill can be analyzed using DNA sequencing techniques. One day, this could aid the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of digestive disorders. Although this pill may be small, its potential is mighty.
A Gut Job
Gut bacteria function to help the body digest food and protect against diseases. But they can also be somewhat disruptive. If the microbiome becomes unbalanced, also known as dysbiosis, constipation, bloating, indigestion, and other unpleasant symptoms can arise. Dysbiosis can also make the body more susceptible to certain infections, or enhance diseases like cancer.
New research is proving that the gut may affect more than just digestion. Recent studies have shown that our genetic makeup determines the mix of bacteria in our gut, and may affect one’s weight. Researchers have even found a potential link between autism and gut bacteria. A more detailed view of these organisms is needed to better understand their relationship with these and other conditions.
