Implantable bioelectronics for gut electrophysiology
A major regulator of gastrointestinal physiology is the enteric nervous system. This division of the autonomic nervous system is unique in its extensiveness, with neurons distributed from the esophagus to the rectum, and its capability for local information processing. However, the constant motion of the gut, arising from its relative movements in the peritoneal cavity and the peristaltic movements associated with gut motility, as well as the sparse distribution of the neurons constituting the enteric nervous system, has made access and analysis exceedingly challenging. Here, we present the construction and validation of a bioelectronic implant for accessing neural information from the distal colon. Our bioelectronic monitoring system demonstrates real-time electrophysiological recording in response to chemical and mechanical distension under anesthesia and to feeding and stress in freely-moving animals. Direct access to the communication pathways of the enteric nervous system paves the way for neuromodulation strategies targeting the gut-brain axis.
Authors
- Chaeyeon Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7633-2448)
- Friederike Uhlig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7441-1951)
- Dion Khodagholy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0805-4612)
- Jennifer N. Gelinas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1164-638X)
- Alexander J. Boys (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6488-7005)
- George G. Malliaras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4582-8501)
- Alejandro Carnicer‐Lombarte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5650-4692)
- Zixuan Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3689-4283)
- Liang Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3883-1902)
- Damiano G. Barone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0091-385X)
- Róisı́n M. Owens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7856-2108)
- Tobias E. Naegele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1842-6750)
- Niall P. Hyland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0060-7390)
- David C. Bulmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4703-7877)
- Amparo Güemes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4206-6812)
- Salim El Hadwe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5521-524X)
- Rohit Gupta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2958-1526)
Institutions
- Dartmouth College (US)
- Children's Hospital of Orange County (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University College Cork (IE)
- Methodist Hospital (US)
- APC Microbiome Institute (IE)
- Rice University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65473-w
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.62
Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
- Rosetrees Trust
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Cambridge Trust
- U.S. Air Force
- Medical Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research