Control neurons by wireless connection

Scientists have developed an ultra-thin device capable of controlling brain cells with drugs and light.

New method to control neurons by wireless connection

Researchers at the University. Y Wasshington and University. Illinois created a new generation implant with a soft material that could be controlled remotely. The new implant will allow neurologists to inject drugs and use light to influence nerve cells deep within the brains of mice in the experiment.

The implant, according to scientists, is one-tenth the thickness of a human hair. And based on these implants, learners can easily determine the path of a mouse with the click of a button.

Bruchas Laboratory has studied many brain circuits that control a range of disorders including stress, depression, addiction and pain. Often, these circuit researchers have to choose between injecting drugs and using light to stimulate nerve cells. Both options require surgery and it can endanger many parts of the brain.

To solve this problem, Dr. Jae-Woong Jeong, a biological engineer who worked at the university. Illinois worked with Dr. Jordan G. McCall from the Bruchas laboratory to create a remote-controlled implant. This tissue is made of a soft material and is about one tenth the diameter of a human hair.

"We have used the nano-process to create an implant that allows us to penetrate deep into the brain," said Dr and professor of materials science, John A. Rogers of the University of Illinois. but the least dangerous effect is that such a microcirculation implant has a greater potential for science and medicine ".

With a thickness of only 80 micrometers and a width of 500 micrometers, the implant is thinner than the type lens or tracheal catheter and it allows for a safer assurance of possible effects during brain surgery.

The first tissue culture test was performed on the brains of some mice. The results from the experiment were quite positive when scientists were able to accurately grasp the circuit map in the mouse brain. In other experiments, they made mice run circles by injecting drugs containing a special morphine into the cerebral cortex, which controls the motor of thought and addiction.

The researchers also tested the use of light and drugs when they caused mice with light-sensitive brain-brain neurons to run only on one side of the cage by ordering the implant to produce pulses. light impacts on cells.

They even found that mice could lose their favorite habits when they simultaneously controlled implants and injections of a drug that could prevent communication between neurons.

It is known that all experiments were performed between the control antenna and the mice within a distance of 1 meter.

According to Daily Science, researchers have created implants that use the technology of semiconductor chips on computers. It allows to create up to 4 positions for drugs and 4 positions for ultra-small inorganic light emitting diodes. They also installed an implant of expandable material at the bottom of the container. As the temperature on the heating units below the container site increases, this series of materials will rapidly expand and push the drug into the brain of the implanted object. At least 30 other test samples were selected before selecting a final test sample.

Dr. Jeong, associate professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering at the University. Colorado Boulder commented: "This is an interdisciplinary effort. We have tried to design implants to meet the greatest needs that so far neuroscience has not yet done."

According to Dr, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Neurobiology Michael R. Bruchas at the University. Washington said: "This research has opened up a world where scientists can learn how the circuits in the brain work with a more natural mechanism."

According to many researchers, they believe that these experimental implants will be " a good tool" if applied. It also promises to open a wide range of neuroscience opportunities for many circuit-related mysteries in normal and healthy human brains.