Bidirectional remote deep brain control with magnetic anisotropic nanomaterials

Introduction

The emergence of a new era in neuromodulation is led by the intriguing potential of functional materials to replace or control neural activity. The ability to simultaneously analyze neural activity offers the potential to translate signals into a feedback loop for intuitive therapy or even to replace lost neurological functions.

Challenges in Current Approaches

However, neuromodulation and recording in the deep brain commonly relies on chronic implantation of macroscale hardware with numerous safety concerns and often suffers from poor spatiotemporal resolution.

BRAINMASTER Overview

BRAINMASTER will demonstrate scalable, wireless, minimally invasive neuromodulation relying on forces transformed to mechanosensory neurons by magnetic nanodiscs (MNDs) coupled to external magnetic fields (MFs). Neuromodulation will run concurrently with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Ca2+ transients.

Objectives

BRAINMASTER's ambitious objectives will permit:

1. Cell-type specific interrogation (write)
2. Simultaneous imaging (read) of the deep brain in untethered subjects without implanted hardware

This approach aims to overcome major challenges present in existing methods.

Engineering of MNDs

MNDs will be engineered to selectively target neural mechanosensitive ion channels by:

• Release of viral vectors for exogenous channel expression
• Recognition motifs for endogenous stimulation

MND surfaces with Ca2+ binding moieties will allow dynamic MRI imaging via the formation of ferromagnetic clusters translated as MRI contrast variations.

Bidirectional Interface

The bidirectional BRAINMASTER interface will include:

• MRI Ca2+ imaging simultaneous with stimulus from large gradient forces pulling MNDs on mechanosensory cells
• Torques mediated by low frequency MFs from miniaturized, MRI compatible coils

Conclusion

Ultimately, I will develop the first-of-its-kind intuitive interface between the deep brain and an engineered system to facilitate cognitive training and therapies for developmental, neurodegenerative, and mental disorders. This will demonstrate the technological breakthrough in the rodent model of early Alzheimer's disease.