Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, March 30 (Xinhua)-- A team of researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich recently invented a new fuel cell implant to treat type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. The pancreas of patients with this type of diabetes does not produce insulin or produces very little insulin.

CTOnews.com learned from the report that the new fuel cell is nearly the size of a tea bag, wrapped in non-woven fabric and coated with alginate (an algae derivative). When implanted subcutaneously, the alginate of the cell absorbs body fluids, allowing glucose to penetrate to the surface and flow into the energy center.

The anode of the battery uses copper-based nanoparticles to generate electricity by decomposing glucose into gluconic acid and protons. These currents need to be combined with insulin capsules containing β cells to trigger insulin secretion.

The battery provides an automatic adjusting circuit. When a fuel cell powered by glucose detects excessive blood sugar, it starts. This stimulates beta cells to produce and secrete insulin. When blood sugar levels drop, power outages stop the production and release of insulin.

Detailed paper reports can be found at Advanced Materials.

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