Dr. Deblina Sarkar, an Indian-origin scientist at MIT, has developed a revolutionary injectable electronic chip capable of traveling through the bloodstream and implanting itself in targeted regions of the brain. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to transform the treatment of neurological disorders by eliminating the need for invasive brain surgery.
The system, known as Circulatronics, utilizes ultra-tiny wireless devices small enough to move freely through blood vessels. These chips are transported by the body’s own immune cells, which naturally migrate to areas of inflammation or disease. This ingenious design allows the chips to cross the notoriously difficult blood–brain barrier and reach specific brain regions with pinpoint accuracy.
Once positioned, the device can be activated wirelessly from outside the body. It delivers precise electrical stimulation to the targeted area, offering a non-invasive method to address neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, brain tumours, and other disorders.
Remarkably, these chips are over a billion times smaller than a grain of rice, dramatically reducing the risk of blockages and eliminating the need for open-skull procedures. Early tests in animal models have shown promising results, paving the way for potential human trials in the near future.
Experts in neuroscience and biomedical engineering have hailed the innovation as a major breakthrough, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the way neurological diseases are treated. By merging advanced electronics with biological systems, Dr. Sarkar’s Circulatronics could usher in a new era of non-invasive brain therapy, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.
