Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the way we treat brain disorders. Researchers at MIT have created microscopic electronic devices, known as cell chips, which are "hitched" to immune cells and can travel through the bloodstream to reach specific areas of inflammation in the brain.
These tiny chips, measuring just 10 microns in diameter, are made from biocompatible materials and can be powered by infrared light. They were developed by a team led by Deblina Sarkar, an electrical engineer and MIT assistant professor, who has spent years working on this technology.
The innovation lies in the way these devices are linked to immune cells, called monocytes, which can home in on inflammation sites in the brain. By fusing the electronics with these cells, the researchers were able to solve three significant problems: making functional electronic devices smaller than blood cells, controlling them with magnetic fields, and crossing the blood-brain barrier.
The resulting solution, dubbed "circulatronics," is a hybrid of living cells and electronics that can be injected into the circulatory system. These hybrids have shown promising results in live mice, with most reaching their destination and causing significant neuronal activation when exposed to infrared light.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, from treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and glioblastoma, to developing brain-computer interfaces for healthy people. The devices can be designed to fully degrade after a set time, making them suitable for use in human clinical trials.
While there is still much work to be done, Sarkar and her team are optimistic that their innovation could one day help with placing implants in brain regions that were previously inaccessible through surgery. With the aim of getting these hybrids FDA-approved within the next three years, the researchers are excited about the prospect of harnessing this technology to improve human health.
These tiny chips, measuring just 10 microns in diameter, are made from biocompatible materials and can be powered by infrared light. They were developed by a team led by Deblina Sarkar, an electrical engineer and MIT assistant professor, who has spent years working on this technology.
The innovation lies in the way these devices are linked to immune cells, called monocytes, which can home in on inflammation sites in the brain. By fusing the electronics with these cells, the researchers were able to solve three significant problems: making functional electronic devices smaller than blood cells, controlling them with magnetic fields, and crossing the blood-brain barrier.
The resulting solution, dubbed "circulatronics," is a hybrid of living cells and electronics that can be injected into the circulatory system. These hybrids have shown promising results in live mice, with most reaching their destination and causing significant neuronal activation when exposed to infrared light.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, from treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and glioblastoma, to developing brain-computer interfaces for healthy people. The devices can be designed to fully degrade after a set time, making them suitable for use in human clinical trials.
While there is still much work to be done, Sarkar and her team are optimistic that their innovation could one day help with placing implants in brain regions that were previously inaccessible through surgery. With the aim of getting these hybrids FDA-approved within the next three years, the researchers are excited about the prospect of harnessing this technology to improve human health.
I'm literally buzzing with excitement about this discovery!!! 
Can you even imagine having a tiny device that can travel through your bloodstream and target specific areas in your brain? 
It's like something out of a sci-fi movie! 
The fact that these "cell chips" are made from biocompatible materials and powered by infrared light is just genius. I mean, who wouldn't want to get rid of that pesky inflammation in their brain? 
This tech has the potential to revolutionize the way we treat brain disorders and maybe even give people with Alzheimer's a second chance at life. 
It's so cool to see scientists pushing the boundaries of what's possible and making a real difference in people's lives! 
Oh great, because what we really need is a whole new generation of tiny robots that can go rogue in our brains... just kidding (or am I?). Seriously though, this circulatronics thing sounds like it could be game-changing for neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. It's wild to think that these microscopic cell chips are being powered by infrared light - no batteries needed! And the fact that they can break down on their own after a set time is pretty cool too. But, I mean, what about all the potential downsides? Like, what if these little cells start causing more inflammation than they're curing? 
Just gotta keep an eye on this one and see how it plays out...
. It's like a sci-fi movie come true! And it's not just about treating serious conditions like Alzheimer's or glioblastoma, but also about helping people with brain-computer interfaces 
. I'm thinking of my grandfather who's been dealing with dementia, and this could be a game-changer for him 
. The fact that these devices can degrade on their own after a set time makes it even more appealing 
. Can't wait to see how this technology unfolds in the next few years! 
. Can they really solve three major problems at once? And what's the deadline for getting these hybrids FDA-approved again? Only 3 years?! That's like, a really short time to test and refine such complex tech 
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. I mean, what if they start using this tech to monitor people's thoughts and emotions? What if it becomes a tool for social control? We need to be careful here, folks... this technology could have some serious implications 
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. what's next, implantin robots in our brains? or even worse, some kinda mind control gov't thingy 
. I mean, sure its cool and all dat these techs could help with brain disorders but whats the catch? we gotta trust these scientists with injectin stuff into us that can interact with our biology... makes me wanna gag 
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. And they can help with neurodegenerative diseases? That's like something out of a sci-fi movie! I'm all for it, though - imagine being able to treat illnesses that have been plaguing us for years without having to undergo major surgery 
. The fact that these devices can be designed to break down on their own after a certain time is genius too 
. Can't wait to see where this tech takes us in the next few years! 
. And what about the whole issue of biocompatibility – are these materials safe for human use? 
! It's like they're giving us a whole new way to tackle those brain disorders. But, I gotta say, I have some reservations about the long-term effects on our bodies. Like, are these tiny chips gonna cause any issues when we ingest them? And what about when they break down and get absorbed into our cells? 
gotta follow these researchers 
I mean, can you imagine being able to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and glioblastoma with something as simple as a tiny electronic device? It's a game-changer. And the best part is that these devices can be designed to fully degrade after a set time, making them suitable for human clinical trials. I'm rooting for Deblina Sarkar and her team - they're on the cusp of something amazing! 
. Can you imagine having tiny little electronic devices inside your body, basically living alongside immune cells? It's trippy 
. The potential for treating brain disorders and even developing brain-computer interfaces is mind-blowing 
. I'm talking 10 microns in diameter, like, smaller than a red blood cell! the tech is called "circulatronics" and it's basically living cells and electronics mixed together 
. this stuff has HUGE potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases like alzheimer's and glioblastoma 
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. But what really caught my attention was the part about these devices being designed to degrade after a set time 
. I'm definitely intrigued by this tech and would love to learn more about how it's going to work in human trials... interesting! 
!