No batteries required: powering medical implants with body sugar

A new generation of implantable medical devices powered by natural sugars in the body aims to improve treatment for chronic conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and heart problems. This innovation follows a UK-led research project that secured over £2 million in funding.

Glutronics Project Overview

Led by the University of Bath in partnership with the Universities of Newcastle, Oxford, and Sheffield, the 'Glutronics' project focuses on developing glucose-powered bioelectronics. These devices are designed to eliminate the need for bulky battery packs that require recharging or replacement.

About Glutronics

The name "Glutronics" stands for Glucose-fuelled Ultra-low power implantable bioelectronics. This initiative tackles a major challenge in modern healthcare: the invasiveness and limitations linked to traditional implantable devices.

"Batteries often account for over 80% of a device’s volume and weight, and require risk-carrying surgeries for replacement, maintenance and hindering long-term use and patient comfort."

Current implants rely heavily on batteries, which despite becoming smaller over time, continue to pose significant drawbacks. The need for surgical replacement or maintenance creates risks and reduces patient comfort.

Potential Applications

The scope for these miniature glucose-powered devices is broad, targeting conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Technical Development

The research team is working on creating compact, lightweight, and durable glucose fuel cells that convert sugars found in bodily fluids into usable energy at the microwatt (µW) scale, which is one millionth of a watt.

Author's summary: The Glutronics project offers a promising solution to enhance implantable medical devices by harnessing body sugars for power, reducing reliance on bulky batteries and enabling safer, long-term treatment options.

healthcare-in-europe.com — 2025-11-05