Advances in ingestible electronics are paving the way for next-generation “smart pills” that can both diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases from within the body. These capsule-sized devices integrate miniaturized sensors, actuators, and wireless communication systems to monitor biomarkers, assess tissue health, and transmit real-time data as they travel through the GI tract.
Beyond diagnostics, emerging prototypes are being designed to deliver drugs directly to diseased tissue or collect biopsy samples using low-power mechanical systems—potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures such as endoscopy. Ongoing research is focused on overcoming key challenges related to power supply, biocompatibility, and miniaturization, with the goal of enabling autonomous capsules capable of sensing, decision-making, and targeted therapeutic action during a single gastrointestinal pass.