Innovative Wireless Neural Interface Device for Precise Drug Delivery

In a significant advancement towards developing more effective neurological treatments, researchers have created a wireless implantable neural interface device capable of delivering drugs precisely to deep regions of the brain. The device utilizes a flexible micropump and specially designed channels to ensure drug infusion without backflow, eliminating the need for external equipment.

Challenges in Treating Neurological Disorders

The blood-brain barrier is one of the major challenges in treating neurological disorders, as it makes it difficult for drugs to reach targeted areas, increasing the risk of side effects when administered systemically. Current drug delivery devices rely on external pumps and tubes, which limit patient mobility and reduce their effectiveness for long-term use.

By developing a fully implantable and flexible device, the team achieved precise drug delivery without backflow using a micropump that mimics intestinal peristalsis and an angled nozzle-diffuser channel.

Technical Advantages of the New Device

The device includes a wireless control unit that allows for real-time adjustment of infusion rates and dosages. The team conducted experiments using an agarose gel brain model, confirming that drugs were delivered continuously without backflow and that infusion rates and dosages could be freely controlled via wireless signals.

All components are made from soft materials to ensure good compatibility with brain tissues, demonstrating stable insertion and operation.

Potential for Personalized Treatment

Researchers anticipate that this system will evolve into a personalized treatment platform by integrating electrodes and sensors to monitor brain signals in real-time and automatically administer drugs as needed.

Professor Kyung-In Jang, the team leader, stated that the device developed in this study enabled precise wireless drug delivery to deep brain regions, and they plan to verify its long-term stability for clinical applications and expand it into a therapeutic platform for various neurological diseases.

Conclusion

The development of the wireless implantable neural interface device represents a crucial step towards improving neurological treatments. This innovation could pave the way for long-term, personalized therapies for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy, significantly enhancing patients’ quality of life. Supported by industrial technology development projects and nanoscience and materials research, researchers continue their efforts to achieve broad clinical applications for this device.