Plugging into the Human Genome: The Potential of Electrogenetics for Wearable Medical Devices

Abstract

Recent advances in electrogenetics by researchers at ETH Zurich suggest the tantalizing possibility of wearable devices that can directly control human DNA. In their new paper, the scientists describe an electrogenetic interface that allowed them to use electricity to command insulin production from human genes grafted into mice. This proof of concept for genetically controlling biological functions via electrical signals represents a major step towards realizing practical applications like wearable medical devices. Such technologies could monitor health issues in real-time and provide customized treatments by "telling" genes to activate or suppress. The ETH Zurich team demonstrated the feasibility of electrogenetics by integrating human pancreatic cells capable of producing insulin into diabetic mice. By placing acupuncture needles at the graft site, they could then use mild electrical currents to stimulate insulin production precisely when needed, thereby regulating the mice's blood sugar levels. This electrogenetic interface effectively created an on-demand drug delivery system using standard double A batteries. The researchers suggest that similar wearable devices could be developed for treating diabetes in humans. Beyond diabetes, electrogenetic technologies have vast potential for intervening in other genetic disorders and diseases like cancer. By using electricity to control DNA transcription directly, electrogenetic interfaces could possibly activate or deactivate targeted genes related to disease. This could allow on-demand correction of genetic malfunctions. However, significant technical barriers remain before electrogenetic wearables become viable for humans. Still, by demonstrating that external electrical signals can directly trigger gene expression, the ETH Zurich study represents an important proof of concept and a promising first step towards developing electrogenetic treatments. Additional research and innovation could someday lead to revolutionary medical devices that are genetically programmed to monitor and maintain human health.