title: Wireless magnetothermal deep brain stimulation.
abstract: Wireless deep brain stimulation of well-defined neuronal populations could facilitate the study of intact brain circuits and the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate minimally invasive and remote neural excitation through the activation of the heat-sensitive capsaicin receptor TRPV1 by magnetic nanoparticles. When exposed to alternating magnetic fields, the nanoparticles dissipate heat generated by hysteresis, triggering widespread and reversible firing of TRPV1(+) neurons. Wireless magnetothermal stimulation in the ventral tegmental area of mice evoked excitation in subpopulations of neurons in the targeted brain region and in structures receiving excitatory projections. The nanoparticles persisted in the brain for over a month, allowing for chronic stimulation without the need for implants and connectors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Ritchie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. anikeeva@mit.edu.
authors.forename: Polina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anikeeva
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000819:agonists; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000502:physiology; D059015:Wireless Technology
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C493922:Trpv1 protein, rat