Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have pioneered a revolutionary technology: subcellular "wearables" designed to interface with individual neurons. These soft, wireless devices could transform neuroscience by enabling precise measurement and modulation of brain activity at a cellular level, offering groundbreaking potential to restore brain function in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and beyond.
Inspired by wearable tech like smartwatches, MIT’s innovation shrinks this concept to a microscopic scale. These devices are:
Battery-free: Powered wirelessly by light.
Soft and flexible: Made of a polymer called azobenzene, they gently wrap around neurons, axons, and dendrites without damaging cells.
Injectable: Thousands can be noninvasively injected into tissue and activated remotely.
Using light, researchers control how these devices snugly conform to neuronal structures, creating a seamless interface to monitor or influence cellular activity.
When exposed to light, the azobenzene polymer sheets roll into microtubes. The intensity and polarization of light determine the size and shape, enabling precise wrapping around delicate neuronal processes.In diseases like MS, neurons lose insulating myelin sheaths, disrupting electrical signaling. These wearables act as synthetic myelin, restoring insulation and function to damaged axons. Atomically thin materials like graphene can be layered onto the devices, allowing integration of sensors to monitor metabolic activity or circuits to stimulate neurons with minimal energy.
The team developed a cleanroom-free process, enabling mass production.Functionalising device surfaces with molecules could direct them to specific cells or regions.Combining wearables with optoelectrical materials could create “smart” neural networks for real-time disease monitoring and treatment.
“This technology is like a founding stone that opens immense possibilities for future research,” says Deblina Sarkar, lead researcher and MIT Media Lab professor.
MIT’s cellular wearables represent a paradigm shift in neuroscience and medicine. By merging nanotechnology with biology, this innovation could unlock new treatments for debilitating brain diseases while advancing our understanding of the brain’s inner workings. As research progresses, these devices may soon transition from lab benches to clinics, offering hope to millions affected by neurological disorders.