Researchers from Tianjin University have developed an ingestible smart capsule that can control gut bacteria through a smartphone app. The capsule was tested in pigs with colon inflammation and enabled two-way communication with engineered E. coli inside the gut. It could detect inflammation signals and trigger targeted drug release. Published in Nature Microbiology, this innovation signals a major leap in app-powered gut therapy and digital health.

Key highlights

Smart capsule detects and treats inflammation

• Capsule connects via Bluetooth to a mobile app to monitor the gut in real time.

• Engineered E. coli bacteria emit light when detecting nitrate a colitis marker.

• The capsule detects this signal and relays it to the smartphone.

Remote-controlled gut bacteria activation

• Through the app, researchers triggered the capsule to flash an LED.

• This activated a genetic circuit in E. coli, releasing anti-inflammatory antibodies.

• The method successfully reduced colon inflammation in test animals.

Potential for future human therapies

• Combines synthetic biology with optoelectronics for digital health monitoring.

• Technology could support real-time, personalized treatment of gut diseases.

• Researchers are refining the system for multi-round communication and human trials.

This smart capsule opens a new frontier in microbiome-based treatments. By offering remote control over therapeutic bacteria inside the body, the technology could transform how we manage gut disorders like colitis using mobile apps, engineered microbes, and precision light signals to deliver care from within.