Abstract
Recent advances in the development of in-body bioelectronic systems are providing new opportunities for the clinical management of various diseases and disorders. These emerging technologies are tailored to specific organs and are beginning to blend both diagnostic sensing and therapeutic actuation. The aim of these systems is to seamlessly integrate with the physiological environment, as illustrated by the diverse device strategies discussed throughout this article. Next generation modalities, such as optogenetics combining gene therapy with devices for photostimulation, are gaining popularity and offer advantages over existing therapeutic strategies. In this perspective, we explore the current state of technological developments, key challenges in the field and potential pathways for translating these innovations into clinical practice.
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Acknowledgements
S.C., T.H.H. and K.L. are supported by the Wyss Center Geneva Lighthouse partnership. T.H.H. is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number: 10006212). C.K. is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number: 218058), Novartis Foundation of Medical-Biological Research (24B094) and the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia (P205). M.J.G. is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No 853378). K.L. is supported by Innosuisse Project 103.116 IP-LS. I.M. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (Consolidator Grant GELECTRO, 101125081). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. J.R. and M.W. are supported by the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics.
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C.K. and T.H.H. conceived the manuscript and supervised the work. All authors contributed to writing, reviewing and editing the manuscript. M.W., J.R., C.T., I.M., K.L., C.K. and T.H.H. prepared the figures. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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J.R. is co-founder of the company Neurolux, Inc, which provides devices to support optogenetic studies in small animal models. M.J.G. is an inventor on a pending patent application (No. PCT/IB2025/056531) filed by the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering that covers method for functional evaluation of the gut. All other authors declare no competing interests.
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Ceto, S., Elshove, S.A., Wu, M. et al. Transforming healthcare through in-body bioelectronic systems. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71188-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71188-3
