OLED-based bidirectional Neuroimplant

Objetivo

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) affect millions worldwide and have complex causes, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, drug use, and aging. Currently, there is no cure for most NDs, with treatments mostly aiming to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression. In general, for any potential therapy, the preservation of neurons and their function—known as neuroprotection—should be a priority. The effectiveness of current therapies, including deep brain stimulation in case of Parkinson’s disease (PD), is limited due to their lack of spatial precision.
The OdiN project aims to develop a flexible, implantable device that enables both neurostimulation and monitoring of neuronal activity. It leverages organic electronics technology, combining near-infrared (NIR) OLEDs to induce photobiomodulation (PBM) for neuroprotection and an OLED–organic photodiode system for detecting neuronal activity. This bidirectional device will be miniaturised to a few hundred micrometres and tested in vitro in a neuronal model of PD, where it will study the effects of PBM on neuroprotection. The device will also be implanted in a PD mouse model to assess its benefits for preventing neurodegeneration in vivo. A technical extension will explore scaling to multi-site stimulation arrays to achieve spatially controlled PBM.
The OdiN project is positioned in the emerging fields of NIR OLED development and PBM, introducing a unique and unprecedented method for precisely targeting neurons without the need for genetic modification. This innovation not only simplifies experimental protocols in animal models but also opens the door to clinical applications that are far more accessible and ethically less problematic than current optogenetic techniques. It holds tremendous promise for advancing the understanding and ultimately the treatment of NDs, offering a tuneable, scalable and minimally invasive implant technology that could revolutionise therapeutic strategies in neuroscience.