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Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a small implant that can be triggered to release glucagon, a hormone used to raise blood sugar.
Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the device is intended to provide backup protection for people with Type 1 diabetes who face the risk of hypoglycemia. When blood sugar drops severely, the condition can quickly escalate from mild warning signs to confusion, seizures, or potentially fatal outcomes if treatment is delayed.
According to the researchers, patients are currently advised to carry glucagon kits or preloaded syringes, but these rely on recognizing symptoms in time to administer the drug. That can be especially challenging for children or when episodes occur during sleep.
Led by Siddharth Krishnan, former MIT research scientist and current assistant prof at Stanford University, the device is built to intervene in such cases by holding pre-measured doses that can be triggered manually or, in the future, automatically.
“The idea is you would have enough doses that can provide this therapeutic rescue event over a significant period of time. We don’t know exactly what that is — maybe a year, maybe a few years, and we’re currently working on establishing what the optimal lifetime is. But then after that, it would need to be replaced,” Krishnan says.
Building a trigger-ready system for drug release
Roughly the size of a coin, the implant features a 3D printed “reservoir” filled with powdered glucagon. This formulation was chosen because liquid versions of the hormone degrade quickly, making long-term storage impractical. Depending on design, each implant can carry one or four doses. To keep the drug sealed until activation, the reservoir is closed with a nickel-titanium alloy that changes shape once it reaches 40°C.
Activation occurs wirelessly as a small antenna inside the implant receives a radiofrequency signal, which generates a mild electrical current. This current heats the alloy until it bends, opening the chamber and releasing the glucagon. Because the system responds to external signals, it could also be paired with continuous glucose monitors to trigger drug delivery automatically if blood sugar levels fall below a set point.
In animal testing, the device was implanted in diabetic mice. When activated, it raised glucose levels within minutes, preventing hypoglycemia. The researchers also tested the same method with epinephrine, a drug often used in emergencies such as anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest, and found that it entered the bloodstream rapidly and elevated the heart rate.
The implants remained functional in animals for up to 4 weeks and continued to work even after fibrotic tissue formed around them, which is a common response to implanted devices. The research team is now working to extend their operational life to at least a year. This would allow the system to serve as a longer-term safeguard before replacement becomes necessary.
Further studies in animals are planned before moving toward human clinical trials, which could begin within three years. Funding for the project came from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a JDRF postdoctoral fellowship, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Additionally, parts of the research were conducted using MIT.nano facilities.
3D printing takes on drug delivery
In the medical field, 3D printing is enabling the design of medical devices that go beyond traditional drug formulations, creating platforms for precise, personalized, and responsive therapies.
Researchers from Zhejiang University and Taizhou University developed 3D printed bone fixation implants that combined mechanical support with localized antibiotic delivery. Using stereolithography (SLA) and dental resin composites blended with ceftriaxone sodium, the team produced bone nails with a dense outer layer for strength and a porous interior for sustained drug release.
Tests showed the implants withstood forces suitable for non-load-bearing bone repair and released up to 80% of the antibiotic within three days, inhibiting pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Cytotoxicity tests confirmed over 70% cell viability, meeting ISO standards, though in vivo studies remain pending.
Researchers at the University of Kent and the University of Strathclyde developed 3DMNMEMS, a transdermal drug delivery system that combines 3D printing, microneedles, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Created with CAD and SLA 3D printing using a biocompatible polymer, the hollow microneedle patch included internal channels, a reservoir, and a fluid inlet.
In tests with diabetic mice, the device delivered insulin faster and maintained glucose control longer than traditional injections. By overcoming the limits of micromoulding, the approach enabled customization, reproducibility, and the use of accessible desktop 3D printers for manufacturing complex microneedle systems.
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Featured image shows MIT’s emergency drug delivery implant for hypoglycemia. Image via MIT.
