Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed microscopic wireless bioelectronic devices capable of travelling through the bloodstream and autonomously implanting in inflamed regions of the brain, potentially offering a future alternative to surgically implanted neurostimulation systems.
The technology, described as “circulatronics”, was led by Deblina Sarkar, PhD, of the MIT Media Lab. The subcellular-sized wireless electronic devices are designed to integrate with living immune cells, specifically monocytes, enabling them to exploit natural immune trafficking pathways to cross the blood–brain barrier and target sites of inflammation.
In preclinical experiments in mice, the devices were injected into the arm, attached to immune cells and observed to migrate to inflamed brain regions without damaging surrounding tissue or disrupting the blood–brain barrier. Once at the target site, the devices self-implanted within the tissue microenvironment. Researchers were then able to wirelessly power them using externally applied electromagnetic fields, triggering localised electrical stimulation via near-infrared light.
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The devices measure approximately one-billionth the length of a grain of rice and consist of semiconducting organic polymer layers combined with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor components in a three-layer heterostructure. According to the research team, more than six years of iterative development were required to achieve sufficient miniaturisation, wireless power efficiency and biocompatibility.
Potential applications include Alzheimer’s disease, glioblastoma, chronic pain and other neurological conditions associated with inflammation. The approach may also allow earlier targeting of microscopic or diffuse pathological changes that are not detectable with current imaging modalities.
However, significant translational challenges remain. Questions persist regarding long-term safety, mechanisms of device detachment from immune cells, feasibility in humans, and retrieval in the event of malfunction. A start-up company, Cahira Technologies, has been launched to advance the technology towards clinical testing, with researchers estimating a potential three-year timeline to initial human applications.
Further studies will be required to establish safety, efficacy and regulatory approval pathways before widespread clinical adoption can be considered.
This news item has been summarised using AI and checked by humans before publication.
Sources
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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