Innovative Shape-Shifting Material Could Revolutionize Medical Implants and Ingestible Devices

Researchers at Rice University have made a significant breakthrough in the development of advanced metamaterials that could greatly enhance the safety and functionality of implantable and ingestible medical devices. Led by Yong Lin Kong, the team has engineered a soft yet robust metamaterial capable of being remotely controlled to rapidly alter its size and shape. This innovative material, detailed in the journal Science Advances, combines stability and deformability in ways previously unseen in such soft structures, while maintaining exceptional strength—even under high compressive loads and in extreme environments reminiscent of the human body's harsh conditions.

The key to this breakthrough lies in the material’s design, which incorporates geometric features like trapezoidal supporting segments and reinforced beams, creating multistability—meaning it can exist in multiple stable states. This design allows the metamaterial to lock into different shapes, maintaining each configuration even after the external magnetic or force stimulus is removed. Using sophisticated 3D printing techniques, the team crafted interconnected microarchitectures within the material, enabling rapid shape transitions and complex motions such as peristalsis, which can be harnessed for fluid transport or targeted drug delivery.

A major concern with traditional rigid devices is the potential for tissue damage, including gastric ulcers, puncture injuries, and inflammation. The soft, adaptable nature of this new metamaterial addresses these issues by reducing mechanical stress and inflammation risks. Its resilience under prolonged mechanical stress and acidic conditions simulates the environment of the human stomach, demonstrating its suitability for medical applications.

The ability to remotely control device shape and size opens up new possibilities in medical treatment, such as precise positioning within the body, localized medication delivery, or mechanical stimulation. Current efforts are focused on developing ingestible systems aimed at treating obesity and improving health in marine mammals, with collaborations underway with surgeons at the Texas Medical Center to create wireless fluidic control systems for clinical use.

Overall, this advancement marks a pivotal step toward safer, smarter, and more versatile implantable and ingestible devices that can operate effectively in complex biological environments—potentially transforming the future landscape of medical care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-shifting-material-future-implantable-ingestible.html