Neuro-X seminar: Prof Danijela Gregurec - Wireless neural Interfaces: magnetically driven nanomaterials for neuromodulation

Neuromodulation techniques, such as deep brain stimulation, have significantly improved motor function restoration in neurological disorders. However, current approaches often remain invasive and spatially imprecise. In this talk, I will explore how nanomaterials play a pivotal role in unlocking the transformative potential of converting magnetic fields into diverse neuromodulation mechanisms. Magnetic nanomaterials enable wireless, spatially unrestricted interactions with external magnetic fields, making them highly promising for neuromodulation applications. I will highlight cutting-edge approaches that leverage magnetic nanomaterials to achieve minimally invasive and neuromodulation, focusing on three key modalities: Magnetothermal neuromodulation, where hysteresis-driven heating in high-frequency alternating magnetic fields activates thermosensory neurons; Magnetomechanical neuromodulation, which utilizes anisotropic magnetite nanomaterials to generate piconewton torques under slow magnetic fields, selectively activating mechanoreceptors in neural tissues; and magnetoelectric neuromodulation, where core-shell structures efficiently convert magnetic fields into electrical potentials, enabling wireless electrical neuromodulation.
By integrating magnetically responsive nanomaterials with scalable and noninvasive electronics, we can unlock truly wireless, multimodal and bidirectional neural interfaces, paving the way for next-generation neuromodulation therapies.