Ingestible Capsule Technologies to Study and Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains different organs that pose broad implications for overall health. Advances in systems integration and miniaturization have allowed for the growth of ingestible capsules—non-invasive devices capable of a myriad of applications, including sensing specific biomarkers, performing biopsies, and locally delivering drugs—for patients suffering from GI disorders. However, current technologies lack low-power, remotely triggerable mechanisms to collect tissue samples for clinical relevance or the precision to release drugs into specific parts of the body. Further, no ingestible capsules exist that can quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of neurotransmitters, including serotonin (5-HT), in real-time. Another gap in ingestible capsules development is packaging, which needs to be designed to prevent leaks and preserve isolation between internal and external environments. To address these issues, we aim to improve ingestible capsules by leveraging additive manufacturing, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and mesoscale systems, like linear actuators, 3D printed tissue collectors, and cantilevers, to simultaneously achieve more adaptable and robust prototypes as well as more rigorous in vitro testing methods. To validate the ingestible devices, several test setups were completed: a precise sensor to measure motor force, a load cell test to characterize actuator force, sealing tests to evaluate reliability and integrity, and a “lab-on-a-chip” to simulate the GI epithelium. Through the implementation of these mesoscale designs, clinicians can better diagnose and monitor GI disorders, enabling more efficient interventions and therapeutics.