MIT Develops Injectable Brain Chips, Aiming for Human Trials in Three Years

Cambridge, MA – Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a groundbreaking technology involving microscopic, injectable brain chips designed to stimulate neurons and potentially treat a range of neurological disorders without invasive surgery. These wireless bioelectronic devices, dubbed "circulatronics," can travel through the bloodstream, self-implant in precise brain regions, and are slated for human trials within three years through the new startup, Cahira Technologies.

The innovative chips, each approximately one-billionth the length of a grain of rice, are composed of organic semiconducting polymers and metals. They are integrated with living cells, enabling them to bypass the body's immune response and cross the blood-brain barrier, as detailed in a study published in Nature Biotechnology. According to MIT News, this cellular integration allows the devices to function as "stealth agents," reaching their targets without detection or rejection.

In animal trials, the circulatronics successfully navigated the circulatory system and precisely self-implanted in specific brain areas. Once in place, they can be remotely powered to deliver electrical stimulation, a process known as neuromodulation. This capability holds promise for treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, and chronic pain, by stimulating affected neurons with micrometer accuracy.

Deblina Sarkar, AT&T Career Development Associate Professor at the MIT Media Lab and head of the Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek Lab, highlighted the potential impact, stating, "Our cell-electronics hybrid fuses the versatility of electronics with the biological transport and biochemical sensing prowess of living cells." She emphasized that the technology could make therapeutic brain implants accessible to a wider population by eliminating the need for costly and risky surgical procedures.

The research team, including lead author Shubham Yadav, aims to advance the technology from animal studies to human clinical trials in the near future. The formation of Cahira Technologies underscores MIT's commitment to commercializing this potentially transformative medical innovation. This development marks a significant step towards a future where brain surgery could be replaced by a simple injection, leveraging the synergy between biology and nanoelectronics.