The technology consists of a resin pill-like device that has a pH sensitive tip. When the capsule reaches an area of the gut with the appropriate pH level, the cap dissolves and allows intestinal fluid to come in. Inside, a hydrogel aborbs the liquid and expands. This expansion causes a plug to push against the opening where the cap was and seals off the capsule. Once excreted, the capsule can be unscrewed and the sample removed using a pair of tweezers.
There’s nothing expensive that’s required to make such capsules and the researchers believe that each one can be manufactured for only about a dollar.
The next steps will involve testing the devices in live porcine models and developing a prototype that is more suited for human applications.
Study in RSC Advances: Smart capsule for non-invasive sampling and studying of the gastrointestinal microbiome
Via: Purdue
