Researchers at MIT have developed tiny, battery-free devices that can be attached to single cells, including neurons. This breakthrough could change how we study and understand the fundamental components of the body by allowing us to explore their electrical and metabolic activity. As reported by MIT News, these subcellular gizmos could gather valuable data right from the source, inside the body.
The concept may seem futuristic, but it's real. These devices are made from a soft polymer that can wrap around nerve structures like axons and dendrites. They respond to light signals to position themselves, acting like tiny, high-tech hugs for nerve fibers. This non-invasive method could lead to new treatments and monitoring for conditions such as multiple sclerosis. "The concept and platform technology we introduce here is like a founding stone that brings about immense possibilities for future research," Deblina Sarkar of MIT told MIT News.
Creating tiny wearables is challenging. The MIT team addressed the complexities of neuron shapes and sensitivity, ensuring their devices wrap around cells without causing damage. By modifying azobenzene film properties, they developed structures that can fit tightly around even curved axons and dendrites. This control allows researchers to customize the size and shape of the devices for an optimal fit.
The researchers report that the potential applications are diverse. Devices made from azobenzene could function as synthetic myelin, the insulating layer around axons that enables efficient electrical signal transmission. In conditions like multiple sclerosis, these wearables may help restore normal neuronal function. The team is also investigating how these devices could integrate with optoelectrical materials, which could lead to electronic stimulation therapies for brain diseases. "To have intimate interfaces with these cells, the devices must be soft and able to conform to these complex structures. That is the challenge we solved in this work. We were the first to show that azobenzene could even wrap around living cells," Sarkar elaborated in her interview with MIT News.
These wearables are still in the early stages of development, but support from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the U.S. National Institutes of Health Brain Initiative provides the necessary resources to advance this technology. What starts as a research tool may become important for treating complex brain diseases. If successful, this work could enhance understanding and treatment of neuronal conditions.