Published in the Nature Biomedical Engineering journal, the team involving researchers from Republic of Korea and United States have created a brain implant that can be managed using a mobile phone technology and is able to deliver drugs to the brain. Named as the “wireless optofluidic brain probes”, it can be controlled with the help of smart phones. Furthermore, this device is also capable of stimulating the brain cells with the help of light.
As per the lead author of the project Raza Qazi, who has been associated with University of Colorado Boulder as well as Republic of Korea, Chronic chemical and optical neuromodulation is first of its kind and this wireless neural device is capable of doing that. The main objective behind devising the tool is to help doctors determine the different mental conditions like Depression, Parkinson’s as well as Alzheimer’s.
The testing for the same has been already done on mice. As per the researchers this is a revolutionary device for a reason that the old school method of probing mental health was tedious and also lead to brain legions on account of their rigidity. Its ability to deliver medicine to the brain is also limited. The new device used is light in weight and very thin as good as thinner than human hair actually. The technology used to release drugs into the brain as well as to stimulate the select brain cells, is the same Bluetooth technology of the smartphones. It makes use of small cartridges that are miniature in nature and replaceable also, making it easier to remove and replace them whenever there is need to provide fresh drug filled cartridges.
As per Author Professor Michael Bruchas, the device has the clinical potential to aid researchers with different neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions as well as development of new therapies. He also mentioned its potential and usage for pharmacological studies of complex nature that includes development of new therapeutics around emotional disorders, addiction and pain.
Professor Jeong added that the research team would be working on the device further for brain implants and targeted clinical research.
*Sourced from the Internet
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