Magnetic nanomaterials for wireless thermal and mechanical neuromodulation

Lorenzo Signorelli, Sarah-Anna Hescham, Arnd Pralle*, Danijela Gregurec*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Magnetic fields are very attractive for non-invasive neuromodulation because they easily penetrate trough the skull and tissue. Cell specific neuromodulation requires the magnetic field energy to be converted by an actuator to a biologically relevant signal. Miniaturized actuators available today range from small, isotropic magnetic nanoparticles to larger, submicron anisotropic magnetic nanomaterials. Depending on the parameters of external magnetic fields and the properties of the nanoactuators, they create either a thermal or a mechanical stimulus. Ferromagnetic nanomaterials generate heat in response to high frequency alternating magnetic fields associated with dissipative losses. Anisotropic nanomaterials with large magnetic moments are capable of exerting forces at stationary or slowly varying magnetic fields. These tools allow exploiting thermosensitive or mechanosensitive neurons in circuit or cell specific tetherless neuromodulation schemes. This review will address assortment of available magnetic nanomaterial-based neuromodulation techniques that rely on application of external magnetic fields.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105401
Number of pages13
JournaliScience
Volume25
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Nov 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Magnetic nanomaterials for wireless thermal and mechanical neuromodulation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this