A high-profile medical development was the work of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The researchers created insulin capsules for patients with diabetes.

Because of the disease, patients have to take insulin injections every day and sometimes several times a day. Scientists at MIT want to make their lives easier by creating a technological hormone capsule.

The capsule consists of a small module with a non-digestible shell, a needle that is 100% insulin, and a sugar disc. When ingested, the sugar disc dissolves, releasing the insulin needle spring. Scientists claim that the injection is painless because there are no nerve endings in the stomach, which are responsible for the transmission of pain impulses.

The shell itself consists of a biodegradable polymer and stainless steel and exits the body naturally. So far, the development has been successfully tested on pigs.

A Singaporean team of researchers has proposed an unusual way to treat glaucoma and yellow spot degeneration – an eyeball patch covered with tiny needles containing the drug.

The patient has to put the patch on his eyes – just like contact lenses. The protein present in the eye fluid will dissolve the material between the base of the patch and its needles. The outer layer of each needle will dissolve immediately, delivering a dose of medication to the eyeball. The rest will dissolve over time.

Despite the rather intimidating nature of the procedure, researchers claim that this method of treatment is much safer than eye drops or pills. Traditional medications cannot deliver the active ingredient to the problem area in its entirety: it requires an increased dose, which can be risky for the patient.

According to the team, the needles are so small that they don’t cause any pain. At least in the mice on which they tested the drug.

Scientists from Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine have also unveiled their new development, a biodegradable implant. It speeds up nerve regeneration by electrical stimulation and then dissolves in the body.

The coin-sized device works for about two weeks, and at the end of that period it dissolves – the patient doesn’t need surgery to remove it. According to scientists, this provides additional benefits and will allow the device to find new applications.

In 2018, the implant was tested on rats. Experiments showed that it works effectively and dissolves in the body without side effects.