Hormonal chips are innovative technologies designed for the precise, sustained delivery of hormones within the body. These small, implantable devices offer a new approach to managing various physiological processes by ensuring a steady supply of specific substances, circumventing the need for frequent administration.
Core Design and Function
Release Mechanisms
Hormonal chips contain core components: a reservoir to store the hormone and a mechanism for its controlled release. Some designs feature multiple distinct reservoirs, allowing for precise delivery. Release mechanisms vary, including passive diffusion, where hormones gradually move out of the device, or active systems like micro-pumps that dispense doses. Some chips utilize a stimulus-responsive membrane, which can be triggered externally to release the hormone.
Types of Implants
Newer technologies, such as those being developed for contraception, can use an electric current to temporarily melt a seal, allowing a precise dose of hormone to be released. Other implants, like those used in hormone replacement therapy, are small, slow-release pellets that are absorbed by the body over time.
Key Applications
Hormonal chips are primarily applied in several medical areas, offering long-acting solutions for hormone management. A significant use is contraception, where chips release specific hormones to prevent pregnancy. Contraceptive implants typically release progestin, which inhibits ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, and thins the uterine lining. These implants can be highly effective, with some types offering over 99% efficacy for up to three years.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is another important application for individuals experiencing menopause or hormone deficiencies. They provide a steady supply of hormones like estrogen or testosterone to alleviate symptoms and maintain hormonal balance. Beyond these common uses, emerging applications include controlled hormone delivery for chronic conditions or for research purposes, such as regulating circadian rhythms in organ-on-a-chip systems. Some research explores their potential for mental health conditions.
Administration and Management
The placement of hormonal chips involves a minor surgical procedure performed by healthcare professionals. Contraceptive implants are commonly inserted under the skin of the inner upper arm. The procedure involves numbing the area with a local anesthetic, making a small incision, and using a specialized tool to slide the implant into the subcutaneous layer. The insertion process can take only a few minutes.
Once implanted, these devices have a specific duration of effectiveness, with contraceptive implants lasting up to three years. Hormone replacement therapy pellets may need replacement every 6-8 months. Removal also requires a healthcare provider, who will numb the area, make a small incision, and extract the device. After removal, temporary effects on the body, such as changes in menstrual patterns, typically resolve within a few months.
Body’s Interaction with the Chip
The body integrates the hormonal chip, and its systems adjust to the continuous release of hormones. The endocrine system, which regulates hormones, responds to the new hormone levels introduced by the chip. For example, contraceptive implants release progestin, which suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, thereby inhibiting ovulation. This sustained low dose of hormones can lead to systemic changes.
At the implantation site, the body’s tissues react to the presence of the device. This local tissue response can include mild pain, discomfort, or bruising immediately after insertion. In some cases, a foreign-body reaction with localized inflammation and fibrosis may occur. There is also a small risk of infection at the insertion site or the implant moving slightly from its original position.
Users may experience various physiological changes as their bodies adapt to the altered hormone levels. For contraceptive implants, common changes include alterations in menstrual patterns, such as lighter periods, less regular bleeding, or even the cessation of periods, which is considered safe. Other reported changes can include headaches, breast tenderness, or weight changes, though the direct causation for all reported changes is not always clear.