Expandable and implantable bioelectronic complex for analyzing and regulating real-time activity of the urinary bladder

Abstract

Underactive bladder or detrusor underactivity (DUA), that is, not being able to micturate, has received less attention with little research and remains unknown or limited on pathological causes and treatments as opposed to overactive bladder, although the syndrome may pose a risk of urinary infections or life-threatening kidney damage. Here, we present an integrated expandable electronic and optoelectronic complex that behaves as a single body with the elastic, time-dynamic urinary bladder with substantial volume changes up to ~300%. The system configuration of the electronics validated by the theoretical model allows conformal, seamless integration onto the urinary bladder without a glue or suture, enabling precise monitoring with various electrical components for real-time status and efficient optogenetic manipulation for urination at the desired time. In vivo experiments using diabetic DUA models demonstrate the possibility for practical uses of high-fidelity electronics in clinical trials associated with the bladder and other elastic organs.

Direct optogenetic stimulation of smooth muscle cells to control gastric contractility

“…Interestingly, wireless control of implanted LED devices has already been successfully applied within the colon of transgenic mice to increase the fecal pellet output 28 and recently in the bladder to trigger urination 69 . The SMC layer on the outer surface of the human stomach is only approximately 2 mm thick 70 , 71 .…”

“…This is important since it allows the use of blue light for efficient illumination of the whole muscular layer with reasonable light intensities and thus also more restricted light effects assuming similar light absorption of the SMC tissue compared to the heart 72 . Therefore the recently described expandable integrated optoelectronic mash with µLEDs allows quasi panoramic illumination 69 which could be applied simultaneously but also sequentially to simulate physiological contractility waves. On the other hand, the thinness of the SMC layers allows the use of blue light activated ChR variants although red light can be applied with much higher energies without toxic effects 26 .…”

Selective optogenetic control of Gq signaling using human Neuropsin

“…Importantly, having an optogenetic receptor at hand which is commonly expressed in humans provides a unique opportunity for translational approaches because ectopic expression most likely does not trigger immune responses 66 , 67 . Increasing activity of G q signaling with hOPN5 expression and illumination might help to increase the efficiency of optogenetic strategies 32 , specifically those targeting smooth muscle contractility 68 , 69 . We could not detect any side effects by sole overexpression of hOPN5 in cells and organs which excludes dark activity of the receptor or alterations of the native G q signaling cascade.…”

Development of nano- and microdevices for the next generation of biotechnology, wearables and miniaturized instrumentation

“…11). 106 This research work presented a stretchable wearable that allowed to sense length stretching of bladder, accompanied with optical sensing and light delivery for targeted optogenetics.…”