In a breakthrough that underscores the UAE’s growing influence in global medical innovation, scientists in Abu Dhabi have taken a significant step toward developing a future alternative to blockbuster weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic.
A research team at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has engineered a tiny, swallowable device that emits light inside the digestive system — a cutting-edge approach that could one day be used to control appetite, regulate nutrient absorption, and support weight management without medication.
The findings, published in the international journal Advanced Materials Technologies, are based on laboratory studies involving rats and represent early but promising progress in a field many researchers describe as the “holy grail” of obesity treatment.
A New Frontier in Weight-Loss Science
Unlike injectable drugs such as Ozempic, which work by mimicking hormones that suppress appetite, the NYU Abu Dhabi device relies on physical stimulation of the gut’s neural network. The capsule emits light that can activate specific nerve cells in the digestive tract, potentially influencing hunger signals and how the body processes food.
Dr Khalil Ramadi, assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and head of the research team, said the long-term vision is to use ingestible technology to safely and precisely regulate appetite in people.
“This is very much the long-term goal for researchers in this space — to create the next Ozempic-buster,” Dr Ramadi told The Gulf Talk News.
“We’re not there yet, but the results suggest it is well within the realm of possibility.”
How the Capsule Works
The miniature LED capsules, created entirely using in-house 3D-printing technology, are fed to laboratory rats and activated wirelessly through a magnetic field, similar to the way smartphones charge wirelessly. Once activated, the device emits light as it moves through the digestive system and is later expelled naturally.
The concept is linked to the rapidly advancing field of optogenetics, which combines light and genetics to control specific cells. In future applications, gut neurons could be made light-sensitive, allowing scientists to turn appetite-related signals on or off with remarkable precision.
Although genetic modification was not part of the Abu Dhabi experiments, it is widely used in research labs worldwide and could form part of the next phase of development.
Beyond Obesity: Wider Medical Applications
While weight management is a key focus, the technology could have broader medical benefits. One potential application is helping stimulate gut contractions in patients suffering from digestive disorders such as chronic constipation.
“Could we selectively absorb certain nutrients and not others? Could we increase or decrease hunger depending on the condition we’re treating?” Dr Ramadi said.
For now, the experiments are limited to rats and mice, allowing researchers to safely explore how the technology interacts with biological systems. At the same time, the team is actively working on human-scale versions of the device.
Powering the Future Without Batteries
One of the most innovative aspects of the NYU Abu Dhabi research is its focus on battery-free power delivery. Many ingestible medical devices developed elsewhere rely on internal batteries, which can raise safety and disposal concerns.
By using magnetic fields to power ultra-small devices, the Abu Dhabi researchers hope to pave the way for safer, longer-lasting ingestible technologies suitable for human use.
“When it comes to powering human-scale devices, the jury is still still out,” Dr Ramadi said, adding that multiple solutions are being explored.
A Platform for Next-Generation Medicine
Dr Ramadi, who has spent the past five years at NYU Abu Dhabi, described the technology as a versatile medical platform rather than a single-use solution.
“You can transfer power to a very small component and then decide how to use it — to emit light, activate a switch, or release a drug,” he said. “That opens the door to many future medical applications.”
The study was co-authored by nine NYU Abu Dhabi scientists, including Dr Mohamed Elsherif, the paper’s lead author. Dr Elsherif highlighted that the capsule enables detailed gut analysis without the need for invasive surgical procedures such as implanting optical fibres.
“What makes this capsule unique is that it was entirely fabricated in-house using 3D printing, without the need for specialised cleanroom facilities,” he said.
Positioning the UAE at the Forefront of Medical Innovation
As global demand for weight-loss treatments continues to rise, injectable drugs like Ozempic have transformed the healthcare landscape — but concerns over cost, access, and long-term use remain.
The NYU Abu Dhabi breakthrough signals a future where technology-driven, non-pharmaceutical solutions could complement or even replace traditional drug-based approaches. More importantly, it reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for world-class scientific research tackling global health challenges.
For now, the so-called “Ozempic-buster” remains a long-term goal — but the science emerging from Abu Dhabi suggests that the future of weight-loss treatment may be swallowed, not injected.
