Project description
Anisotropic nanomagnetite for bidirectional wireless deep brain control
A new era in neuromodulation is emerging, driven by the potential of functional materials to control neural activity. Analysing neural signals could create a feedback loop for therapy or compensate for lost functions. However, current methods often rely on large, chronically implanted hardware, which raises safety concerns and suffers from poor resolution. The ERC-funded BRAINMASTER project will develop a wireless and minimally invasive neuromodulation method using magnetic nanodiscs (MNDs). These MNDs will convert magnetic forces into signals for specific neurons while simultaneously enabling magnetic resonance imaging to monitor calcium (Ca2+) transients. The innovative interface will facilitate cognitive training and treatment for various disorders, including early Alzheimer’s disease (demonstrated in a rodent model), without the need for implanted hardware.
Objective
The emergence of a new era in neuromodulation is led by the intriguing potential of functional materials to replace or control neural activity. The ability to simultaneously analyse neural activity offers the potential to translate signals into a feedback loop for intuitive therapy or even to replace lost neurological functions. However, neuromodulation and recording in the deep brain commonly relies on chronic implantation of macroscale hardware with numerous safety concerns and often suffers from poor spatiotemporal resolution.
BRAINMASTER will demonstrate scalable, wireless, minimally invasive neuromodulation relying on forces transformed to mechanosensory neurons by magnetic nanodiscs (MNDs) coupled to external magnetic fields (MFs). Neuromodulation will run concurrently with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Ca2+ transients. BRAINMASTERs ambitious objectives will permit cell-type specific interrogation (write) and simultaneous imaging (read) of deep brain in untethered subjects without implanted hardware, overcoming major challenges present in existing approaches.
MNDs will be engineered to selectively target neural mechanosensitive ion channels by release of viral vectors for exogenous channel expression or by recognition motifs for endogenous stimulation. MND surface with Ca2+ binding moieties will allow dynamic MRI imaging via formation of ferromagnetic clusters translated as MRI contrast variations.
The bidirectional BRAINMASTER interface will include MRI Ca2+ imaging simultaneous with stimulus from large gradient forces pulling MNDs on mechanosensory cells and torques mediated by low frequency MFs from miniaturized, MRI compatible coils.
Ultimately, I will develop the first-of-its-kind intuitive interface between the deep brain and an engineered system to facilitate cognitive training and therapies for developmental, neurodegenerative and mental disorders and demonstrate the technological breakthrough in the rodent model of early Alzheimers disease.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
91058 ERLANGEN
Germany
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