Scientists at Cornell University have developed an implantable system capable of long-term control of type 1 diabetes by supplying insulin-producing cells with additional oxygen and protecting them from the body’s immune attack. The work has been published in the journal Nature Communications (NatCom).

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the pancreatic islets that produce insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter muscles and tissues, leading to severe complications. Currently, the disease is managed through daily injections or insulin pumps, but these do not prevent long-term consequences.

The main problem with previous implants was that at high cell density, the cells would quickly die from oxygen deprivation. The new system solves this issue: a capsule with a ring-shaped cross-section contains the cells, while a miniature coin-sized electrochemical oxygen generator is installed at the center. The outside of the capsule is coated with a membrane that shields it from the immune system, while the inside is lined with a permeable shell allowing oxygen and nutrients to enter.

The technology has been successfully tested in rats. The developers hope that in the future, it will allow millions of people with type 1 diabetes to receive cell transplants, ensuring more precise blood sugar control and effectively curing the disease.

The next step will be trials in pigs and with human stem cells. In the long term, the system could also be used to treat other chronic diseases — for example, to deliver enzymes or anti-inflammatory agents.