The engineers have developed a patch that combines sensors and bacteria to interact with the body. Simiao Niu, troubled by psoriasis as a child, often used prescribed ointments to treat the inflamed, red areas caused by the disease. However, he was unsure of the effectiveness of the treatment. Later, as an engineer at Apple Inc., he worked on devising the electronics in Apple watches that monitor heart rhythm.revelation: Is it possible to create a wearable electronic device that can help treat skin conditions like psoriasis and give patients constant updates?
Now, Niu, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the School of Engineering at Rutgers-New Brunswick, has played an important role in creating the kind of device he had envisioned: a special prototype of what he and his research partners are calling a “living bioelectronic” designed to treat psoriasis.
Discussing the breakthrough in Science magazine, Niu and his collaborators, including scientists at the University of Chicago led by Bozhi Tian and Columbia University has developed a patch using advanced electronics, living cells, and hydrogel that has shown effectiveness in mice experiments. This patch could be a potential treatment for psoriasis and also has the potential to be used as a delivery platform for treating various medical needs such as wounds and potentially different skin cancers. Niu, a researcher at the university, explained that they were searching for a new device that could sense and treat skin inflammation diseases like psoriasis. They discovered that by combining living bacteria, flexible electronics, and adhesive skin interface materials, they were able to create this innovative patch.The invention of this new type of device is a significant advancement in the field of bioelectronics. The circular patch, measuring about 1 inch in diameter and very thin, is made up of electronic chips, bacterial cells, and a gel consisting of starch and gelatin. The research team conducted tests on mice and found that the device was able to continuously monitor and improve psoriasis-like symptoms without causing irritation to the skin. This device represents a major progression from traditional bioelectronics, which typically consist of electronic components encased in a soft synthetic layer to reduce irritation when in contact with the body.
Niu’s invention is considered a “living drug” because it uses living cells as part of its therapy. It incorporates S. epidermidis, a bacteria that lives on human skin and has been proven to decrease inflammation, into the gel casing of the device. The device also includes a thin, flexible printed circuit that serves as its skeleton.
Once placed on the skin, the bacteria release compounds that help reduce inflammation. At the same time, sensors in the flexible circuits track the skin for signs of healing, such as skin impedance, temperature, and humidity. This unique device offers a new approach to medical treatment, moving beyond the use of traditional devices like electrodes for electrocardiograms.The data gathered by the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to a computer or smartphone, allowing patients to track their recovery progress. Before joining the faculty at Rutgers in 2022, Niu worked at Apple, where he and other engineers received numerous thank-you notes sent to the CEO’s office. Customers credited their Apple watches with saving their lives, as the built-in heart rate monitors detected a condition called atrial fibrillation, which the customers were unaware of. Atrial fibrillation can lead to strokes if not treated.
“Feeling proud when you create things that have a positive impact on people’s lives is a huge inspiration for me,” Niu expressed. “It motivates me to continue my current research.”
Clinical trials to test the device on human patients are the next steps, according to Niu. This is the initial phase towards making the device available commercially. Once there is evidence of positive results with minimal side effects, the inventors will seek FDA approval to bring the device to the market.
Other contributors to the research from Rutgers are Fuying Dong and Chi Han, who are both graduate students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.Engineering School.
