Effective weight control via an implanted self-powered vagus nerve stimulation device

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07764-z
• Publication Date: 2018-12-11T13:45:33Z
• Authors: Guang Yao; Lei Kang; Jun Li; Yin Long; Hao Wei; Carolina A. Ferreira; Justin J. Jeffery; Yuan Lin; Weibo Cai; Xudong Wang
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Vagus Nerve Stimulation; Appetite Regulation; Science; Q; Stomach; Vagus Nerve; 3T3 Cells; 02 engineering and technology; Article; Cell Line; Rats; 3. Good health; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Eating; Mice; Animals; Peristalsis; Obesity; 0210 nano-technology

AbstractIn vivo vagus nerve stimulation holds great promise in regulating food intake for obesity treatment. Here we present an implanted vagus nerve stimulation system that is battery-free and spontaneously responsive to stomach movement. The vagus nerve stimulation system comprises a flexible and biocompatible nanogenerator that is attached on the surface of stomach. It generates biphasic electric pulses in responsive to the peristalsis of stomach. The electric signals generated by this device can stimulate the vagal afferent fibers to reduce food intake and achieve weight control. This strategy is successfully demonstrated on rat models. Within 100 days, the average body weight is controlled at 350 g, 38% less than the control groups. This work correlates nerve stimulation with targeted organ functionality through a smart, self-responsive system, and demonstrated highly effective weight control. This work also provides a concept in therapeutic technology using artificial nerve signal generated from coordinated body activities.