Parkinson’s Disease Could Be Treated With Magnetic Discs

Scientists are developing an alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for neurological disorders using tiny injectable magnetic discs called magnetoelectric nanodiscs (MENDs). DBS typically requires invasive brain surgery to implant electrodes, which are powered by a device implanted in the chest and connected via subcutaneous wires. Existing less invasive methods are limited to surface brain stimulation or require genetic modification of brain tissue.

MENDs, developed by researchers at MIT and Friedrich-Alexander University, are hexagonal particles 250 nanometers wide. They consist of a magnetostrictive core and a piezoelectric shell. When exposed to an external magnetic field, the core changes shape, straining the shell and producing electricity. The discs can be injected into specific brain regions through small skull holes and activated externally, eliminating the need for implanted electrodes.