In the not too distant future diabetics may also be able to leave the balancing to their bodies, thanks to a new technology being developed by Tejal Desai, associate professor of biomedical engineering, that effectively reintroduces insulin-producing cells to the pancreas. One of a number of new biological microelectromechanical devices (bioMEMS) being developed by Desai, these bioMEMS are tiny capsules (about 1 mm in diameter) that contain healthy insulin-producing cells and are designed to be implanted into the abdomens of diabetics. The bioMEMS are carefully engineered with tiny openings, a mere 10-20 nanometers wide, large enough to ensure a sufficient flow of nutrients and oxygen to nourish the cells, yet small enough to protect the foreign cells from attack by the body's defenses in the form of antibodies and white blood cells.

Desai is also developing a new cadre of tiny bioMEMS—smaller than 50 microns, half the width of a hair—that will selectively deliver medication directly to targeted cells. This extremely efficient method of drug delivery minimizes the amount of drug needed and protects healthy tissue from potential damage. She is also engineering novel three-dimensional structures for growing cardiac muscle tissue that can be used to replace tissue damaged by heart disease.

Desai is one of a number of new faculty specializing in subcellular biomedical engineering at Boston University. Her research is supported in part with a recent $14 million award from the Whitaker Foundation given in recognition of Boston University's leadership in biomedical engineering education and research.