A wireless implant described as ECHO (electrocatalytic closed-loop health optimization) uses electricity to directly oxidize glucose into gluconate, enabling a self-contained glucose “burning” mechanism rather than drug-based control. Researchers led by Martin Fussenegger at ETH Zurich reported results from mouse studies published in Science. The device uses an electrocatalytic surface—graphite with gold nanoflakes and platinum spheres—powered wirelessly. When voltage is applied, glucose is chemically converted into gluconate, which is then processed by the body and cleared through the kidneys. In the mouse experiments, the study reported the bodies burned roughly one-fifth of the resulting gluconate for energy, with the remainder flushed out. The researchers also claimed specificity for glucose even though the blood contains related sugars like fructose and galactose. For device-driven diabetes management, the approach reframes closed-loop glucose control as an on-body chemical conversion problem, with clear implications for reducing medication exposure while shifting the engineering challenge toward safety, specificity, and long-term implant performance.