AI-Powered Ingestible Sensor for Monitoring Gut Health

Bioelectronics is where biology shakes hands with electronics, creating devices that “chat” with our bodies — think sensors that monitor glucose levels or implants that ease chronic pain. Prototyping these devices is like crafting a futuristic toolset: engineers, biologists, and product designers team up to turn bold ideas into devices that improve our quality of life.

Early prototypes often start as patchwork experiments: flexible circuits printed on skin-like materials, tiny sensors that “talk” to enzymes, or wearable patches that track your heartbeat — all tested in labs (or sometimes garages). 

When it comes to prototyping, a printing technology called direct ink writing helps researchers and developers iterate biosensor designs quickly by enabling design changes on-the-fly. Stretchable conductive inks and biocompatible materials ensure these devices conform seamlessly to and in the body. From smart contact lenses that measure eye pressure to neural implants restoring movement, bioelectronics is reshaping healthcare. 

Printing a wearable sensor using NOVA 

Measuring gas concentrations in the gut offers important insights into our digestive health. By analyzing levels and locations of different gases like hydrogen and carbon dioxide, researchers can better understand the activity of the microbiome [1] and the complex interactions between gut bacteria and various health conditions, including imbalances linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or malabsorption [2].

Recently, researchers from the University of Southern California [3] used Voltera’s NOVA materials dispensing system to develop a wearable sensor that, together with an ingestible pill, maps gas concentrations in the gut with precision — all from the comfort of home.

Keep reading to see how it works…

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References

[1] Chen, A. Gut Check: Gas-Sniffing Capsule Charts The Digestive Tract. 2018.

[2] Dickson, I.  (2018). Gas-sensing gut capsules. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 15(131). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2018.3. 

[3] Angsagan, A., et al. (2024). 3D gas mapping in the gut with AI-enabled ingestible and wearable electronics. Cell Reports Physical Science. 5(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101990.