Scientists have created microscopic robots that can revolutionize the treatment of brain diseases by delivering stem cells to precise locations in the brain and stimulating them to grow into neurons, and open new boundaries in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Breakthrough technology, published in the journal Microsystems and Nanoengineering, combines magnetic navigation with ultrasound stimulation to overcome two major challenges of stem cell therapy: putting cells exactly where they are needed and encouraging them to develop into functional brain cells.
“Our technology combines the accuracy of magnetic actuation with the non-invasive force of ultrasound, creating a scalable platform for nerve regeneration,” said study author Hongsoo Choi, Ph.D., a study author at the School of Science and Technology of the study.
The researchers created what they call “cells” — human neuroblastoma cells that contain magnetic nanoparticles that can be guided through tissue using an external magnetic field. Once delivered to the target location, the micro-ultrasound device activates the cells to develop into neurons.
This approach is pioneering the accuracy of the joint efforts of both systems. Magnetic particles allow researchers to guide cells accurately, while custom-designed ultrasound sensors (size only 1mm x 7mm) can stimulate specific cell clusters without affecting surrounding tissue.
The result is dramatic. Cells that received 40 min sonication grew almost twice as much as those of unstimulated cells (119.9 μm vs. 63.2 μm), indicating significant enhancement of neurodevelopment. When tested in laboratory experiments, the researchers successfully directed the large cell to a specific target and selectively stimulated the cells.
This dual-technical approach solves the key problems of current stem cell therapy for brain diseases. Although stem cells have the promise of replacing damaged neurons, traditional implantation methods cannot accurately locate cells or control their development, resulting in poor integration and function.
Miniaturized ultrasound technology represents that it is too large compared to conventional ultrasound systems and lacks the accuracy required to target cell stimulation. The researchers designed an array of piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasound sensors (PMUTs) with a diameter of only 60 microns, which is the width of human hair.
“By achieving localization, we can now imagine stem cells not only reaching their targets, but also maturing into functional neurons as needed,” explains Dr Choi.
In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, the technology can help stroke patients by reconstructing damaged neural circuits, and may even find applications in drug testing by creating more accurate neural tissue models in the laboratory.
Although the technology has not been tested in living animals or humans, it provides a powerful new approach to address the limitations of current stem cell therapies. Researchers are now working to optimize ultrasound parameters and expand the system for the final clinical application.
For millions of dollars in currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases, this microbial approach offers potential treatments that could one day repair damaged brain circuits with unprecedented precision.
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