MIT Researchers Develop Non-Surgical Brain Implants for Treatment

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made significant advancements in the development of non-surgical brain implants. These innovative devices can be injected through the arm, travel through the bloodstream, and autonomously implant themselves in targeted areas of the brain. This breakthrough has the potential to treat various severe neurological diseases while minimizing the risks and costs associated with traditional surgical procedures.

The technology, referred to as “circulatronics,” involves microscopic electronic devices that can provide focused electrical stimulation to specific brain regions. In studies conducted on mice, the implants successfully identified and navigated to a designated area within the brain without external assistance. Once positioned, they deliver electrical stimulation, a process known as neuromodulation, which has shown promise in treating conditions like brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Revolutionizing Treatment Methods

These tiny implants, which measure about one billionth the length of a grain of rice, are designed to evade the body’s immune response. By integrating with living biological cells before injection, they can cross the blood-brain barrier seamlessly, preserving the protective functions of this critical barrier. The research team demonstrated this capability through experiments targeting brain inflammation, a key contributor to many neurological disorders.

Deblina Sarkar, the AT&T Career Development Associate Professor in the MIT Media Lab and head of the Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek Lab, emphasized the potential of circulatronics to make brain implants more accessible. Traditional brain implant surgeries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and involve significant risks. In contrast, circulatronics could offer a safer, less invasive alternative.

The development of these implants has been a six-year endeavor, with researchers overcoming numerous challenges to ensure the devices function effectively once detached from their manufacturing substrate. Sarkar noted, “The electronics worked perfectly when they were attached to the substrate, but when we originally lifted them off, they didn’t work anymore. Solving that challenge took us more than a year.”

Future Applications and Clinical Trials

The research team has successfully fused the electronic components with immune cells known as monocytes. This pairing enables the implants to target areas of inflammation in the brain, allowing for precise treatment. The researchers aim to extend the functionality of circulatronics by exploring the use of different cell types to target specific brain regions effectively.

Sarkar described the technology as a fusion of electronics and biological capabilities, stating, “Our cell-electronics hybrid fuses the versatility of electronics with the biological transport and biochemical sensing prowess of living cells.” This integration allows the devices to travel undetected through the bloodstream and implant themselves in the brain without invasive procedures.

Ongoing tests have shown that circulatronics can safely coexist with neurons, ensuring no disruption to cognitive or motor functions. After the implants self-implant, external transmitters powered by near-infrared light can activate them for neuromodulation.

Currently, the Sarkar lab is focused on adapting this technology for treating various conditions, including glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, and chronic pain. The small size and self-implantation capabilities of these devices make them particularly suitable for addressing tumors that are difficult to detect but potentially life-threatening.

“This is a platform technology and may be employed to treat multiple brain diseases and mental illnesses,” Sarkar added. The research team hopes to initiate clinical trials in the next three years through their new startup, Cahira Technologies.

By integrating additional nanoelectronic circuits into the implants, they aim to enhance functionalities such as sensing and feedback mechanisms, further advancing the treatment of neurological diseases where conventional therapies fall short.

As this pioneering research progresses, it holds the promise of transforming not only brain treatment methodologies but also potentially extending applications to other areas of the body, paving the way for a future where patients may overcome significant health barriers.

More information is available in the article titled “A nonsurgical brain implant enabled through a cell–electronics hybrid for focal neuromodulation,” published in Nature Biotechnology.