{"id":315000,"date":"2017-04-29T14:44:29","date_gmt":"2017-04-29T14:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=315000"},"modified":"2017-04-29T14:44:29","modified_gmt":"2017-04-29T14:44:29","slug":"smartphone-orders-body-to-treat-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/04\/smartphone-orders-body-to-treat-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Smartphone ‘orders’ body to treat diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Scientists have used a smartphone to control the activity of the living cells inside an animal.<\/p>\n
The fusion of biology and technology was used to control blood sugar levels in mice with diabetes.<\/p>\n
The idea, described in Science Translational Medicine, could be applied to a wide range of diseases and drug treatments.<\/p>\n
And the Chinese researchers say the approach could pave the way for a “new era” in medicine.<\/p>\n
The first step was to turn normal cells into living factories.<\/p>\n
They were genetically engineered to manufacture drugs that control blood sugar levels such as insulin – but only in response to light.<\/p>\n
The technology is called optogenetics and these cells would kick into gear when exposed to specific wavelengths of red light.<\/p>\n
Then comes the tech – a set of wirelessly powered LEDs and a smartphone app to control them.<\/p>\n
Researchers at East China Normal University in Shanghai implanted the system into mice and were able to control diabetes with the tap of a touchscreen.<\/p>\n