Wireless Brain Oscillation Control via Magnetoelectric Stimulation with Millisecond Precision

Abstract Electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a pivotal technology in treating neurological disorders and advancing neuroscience research. Minimizing the invasiveness of conventional DBS can reduce the risk of large hardware implants. Our study introduces a novel wireless magnetoelectric neuromodulation method termed Magnetic-driven Torque-Induced Electrical Stimulation (MagTIES). Diverging from traditional magnetostriction-based magnetoelectric stimulation approaches, we utilized the torque force from magnetic nanodiscs during alternating magnetic fields (AMF) to induce a piezoelectric effect on piezoelectric nanoparticles. This technique triggered neuronal activity in vitro and in vivo at millisecond-scale temporal precision using weak AMF at slow frequency. Importantly, it allows fine-tuning brain oscillations in deep brain areas through AMF frequency adjustments. MagTIES represents a significant advancement in neuromodulation, providing a minimally invasive, transgene-free approach for precise and wireless brain activity control, with vast potential for neurological therapies and neuroscience research.