In recent years, smartwatches and fitness trackers have become increasingly popular due to their ability to track various body functions such as heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned. These devices often use green LED lights to penetrate the skin and measure these factors. Now, researchers at ETH Zurich have found a way to use this same green light to activate genes and control certain bodily functions, such as insulin production.
Smartwatches are digital watches with the functions of a cellphone. They allow users to make calls, send messages, watch videos, and sometimes even take photos. Additionally, they have numerous instruments that can read various body functions, making them particularly useful for athletes. The green LED light found in many smartwatches and fitness trackers is not a new technology. It functions as a light barrier, allowing for the measurement of factors such as heart rate. However, the increasing popularity of devices with these LEDs has made the technology more interesting to scientists.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have published a study in the journal Nature Communications describing how they can use green light to activate artificial cells that produce insulin. This has numerous advantages, including the ability to use existing programs and developer platforms from established smartwatch manufacturers. The artificial cells are designed to produce insulin only when they are hit by green light, meaning that insulin is only produced when it is needed. While this technology has the potential to revolutionize insulin delivery for diabetics, it will likely be several years before it is widely available due to the need to create individual cells for each patient and obtain regulatory approval.
