Development of ingestible bioelectronic devices for neuromodulation in the gastrointestinal tract

The convergence of bioelectronics and soft material engineering enables the next generation of ingestible devices that are capable of engaging with internal organs with high specificity. This work presents the development of SIRI-BE (Soft Intestinal Retentive Interface for BioElectronics), a minimally invasive flexible system for neural and hormonal modulation in the small intestine. The device integrates kirigami-patterned thin-film polyimide substrates with bioinspired microneedle arrays to achieve mechanical anchoring on mucosal tissues and maintain biocompatibility and the compliance of gastrointestinal biomechanics. Finite-element models combined with ex-vivo and in-vivo characterization demonstrate that kirigami-enabled deformation and controlled buckling enable stable retention without tissue perforation. The device demonstrates reproducible adhesion under physiological shear stress and maintains functional electrical impedance suitable for localized stimulation. Early in-vivo validation confirms successful deployment and electrical interfacing with intestinal tissue in pigs. By allowing long-term contact for targeted electrostimulation, SIRI-BE creates a technological platform for the modulation of gut-brain hormonal axes via localized, ingestible bioelectronics. This work advances the design of soft, retentive biointerfaces and is an enabler to non-pharmacological, adaptive therapies for metabolic and gastrointestinal disease.