Implanted flexible electronics reveal principles of human islet cell electrical maturation
Summary
Understanding how human pancreatic α and β cell electrical activities mature is critical for building fully functional stem cell-derived (SC-) pancreatic organoids for research and therapeutics. We implanted tissue-like, stretchable electronics during organogenesis of human pancreatic organoids, enabling months-long, single cell-resolved electrophysiology. Longitudinal single-cell tracking suggested that improved hormone responsiveness reflects increasing activity of SC-α and -β cells with
Content
# Implanted flexible electronics reveal principles of human islet cell electrical maturation
*Published: 2026 Feb 19*
Understanding how human pancreatic α and β cell electrical activities mature is
critical for building fully functional stem cell-derived (SC-) pancreatic
organoids for research and therapeutics. We implanted tissue-like, stretchable
electronics during organogenesis of human pancreatic organoids, enabling
months-long, single cell-resolved electrophysiology. Longitudinal single-cell
tracking suggested that improved hormone responsiveness reflects increasing
activity of SC-α and -β cells with low and high basal firing, linked to
induction of energy and hormone metabolism genes. Daily metabolic entrainment
showed that circadian hormone secretion rhythms reflect daily oscillation of
SC-α and -β electrical characteristics, tied to induction of cell-cell
communication and exocytic gene networks, revealing circadian coordination of
cell-level, stimulus-coupled responses. Lastly, we showed that electrical
stimulation, via implanted actuators, enhances SC-α and -β glucose
responsiveness. Our results establish a bioelectronic framework to trace and
modulate functional organoid maturation.
DOI: 10.1126/science.aeb3295